英语词汇albatross的起源、历史背景-英语词源词典

albatross. Probably the subject of more legends than any other sea bird, the albatross takes its name from a corruption of the Portuguese alcatraz, meaning “large pelican.” Dubbed “gooney birds” because of their clumsy behavior, the big alba- trosses—whose wingspans often reach 12 feet, greater than that of any other bird—frequently lumber about the decks of ships, unable to take off after they land because of the cramped space, and actually get as seasick as any landlubber. Another name for them is “mollymawks” or “mollyhawks,” from the Dutch mollemok, “stupid gulls.” Despite their apparent stupid- ity and stubbornness—nothing can force them to abandon their nesting sites, as the U.S. Navy learned at Midway Is- land—and their poor flying ability when there is no wind cur- rent, albatrosses have managed to thrive. They are also called Cape Hope sheep.

词汇	albatross
词源	albatross. Probably the subject of more legends than any other sea bird, the albatross takes its name from a corruption of the Portuguese alcatraz, meaning “large pelican.” Dubbed “gooney birds” because of their clumsy behavior, the big alba- trosses—whose wingspans often reach 12 feet, greater than that of any other bird—frequently lumber about the decks of ships, unable to take off after they land because of the cramped space, and actually get as seasick as any landlubber. Another name for them is “mollymawks” or “mollyhawks,” from the Dutch mollemok, “stupid gulls.” Despite their apparent stupid- ity and stubbornness—nothing can force them to abandon their nesting sites, as the U.S. Navy learned at Midway Is- land—and their poor flying ability when there is no wind cur- rent, albatrosses have managed to thrive. They are also called Cape Hope sheep.
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