hummingbird
|hum-ming-bird|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈhʌmɪŋˌbɜrd/
🇬🇧
/ˈhʌmɪŋˌbɜːd/
small, hovering bird
Etymology
Etymology Information
'hummingbird' originates from English, specifically the combination of 'humming' and 'bird', where 'humming' refers to the sound made by the rapid wing beats.
Historical Evolution
The term 'hummingbird' has remained largely unchanged in English since its first recorded use in the 17th century.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to any bird that made a humming sound, but over time it became specific to the family Trochilidae.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Last updated: 2025/06/08 19:24