passenger pigeon
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A species of pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) that was once abundant in North America but is now extinct: The passenger pigeon was characterized by its gregarious nature, forming enormous flocks during migration, and was hunted to extinction in the early 20th century.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The last known passenger pigeon, named Martha, died in captivity in 1914.
- Historical accounts describe skies darkening for days as massive flocks of passenger pigeons flew overhead.
- The rapid extinction of the passenger pigeon serves as a powerful lesson in conservation.
Advanced Usage
- Used as a symbol or metaphor for extinction, human impact on nature, or lost abundance.
- In his essay, the author used the passenger pigeon as a poignant symbol of humanity's careless destruction of the natural world.
- The story of the passenger pigeon is a classic case study in ecology textbooks.
Variants and Related Words
- Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius): The full scientific name.
- Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura): A related, common North American pigeon species that is often confused with descriptions of the passenger pigeon but is not extinct.
Synonyms
- Ectopistes migratorius (Scientific name).
- Wild pigeon (Historical, non-specific term that often referred to this species).
Related Phrases
- "To go the way of the passenger pigeon": An idiom meaning to become extinct or obsolete.
- Many fear that physical bookstores will go the way of the passenger pigeon.
Notes on Meaning
- The term "passenger pigeon" refers exclusively to this specific extinct species. It is a compound noun where "passenger" is thought to derive from the French word "passager," meaning "passing by," referring to its migratory habits. It is not used to describe a pigeon that is currently a passenger on a vehicle or transport.
Noun
- gregarious North American migratory pigeon now extinct