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alcatraz

gannet (seabird)

noun al-ka-TRAZ Rare

Origin: from Spanish alcatraz (pelican), of Arabic origin

Also means

Alcatraz (prison island)

Usage Note

Alcatraz in French refers both to the gannet (a large seabird) and, by proper-noun extension, to the famous San Francisco island prison. As a common noun it is quite rare in modern French; fou de Bassan is the far more usual term for the northern gannet. The word entered European languages via Spanish sailors.

Examples

"L'alcatraz plonge en piqué pour attraper des poissons."

Natural Translation

The gannet dives steeply to catch fish.

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