bee-eater
|bee-eat-er|
🇺🇸
/ˈbiːˌiːtər/
🇬🇧
/ˈbiːˌiːtə/
a bird that eats bees
Etymology
'bee-eater' originates from English, specifically the compound 'bee' + 'eater', where 'bee' ultimately comes from Old English 'bēo' meaning 'bee' and 'eater' comes from Old English 'etan' meaning 'to eat'.
'bee' changed from Old English 'bēo' to Middle English 'bee' and eventually to modern English 'bee'; 'eater' developed from Old English 'etan' through Middle English forms (e.g. 'eter') to the modern English word 'eater', forming the compound 'bee-eater'.
Initially it meant 'one that eats bees' and this literal meaning has been retained in modern usage to refer to the bird.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a colorful insectivorous bird of the family Meropidae, known for catching and eating bees, wasps, and other flying insects.
A bright green bee-eater swooped down and plucked a bee from the air.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/08 04:26