pharaoh's chicken
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Definition
Noun 1. A small, mostly white vulture: "Pharaoh's chicken" is the common name for the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), a bird of prey. It is characterized by its relatively small size for a vulture, its white plumage with black flight feathers, and its distinctive yellow, featherless face.
Usage
- The term is used as a common name for a specific species of vulture.
- It is primarily used in ornithological, zoological, or descriptive natural history contexts.
- It can be used in historical or cultural discussions, as the bird appears in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and mythology.
Examples
- Noun:
- We spotted a Pharaoh's chicken soaring above the cliffs.
- The Pharaoh's chicken, or Egyptian vulture, is known for using tools to break open eggs.
- In ancient iconography, the Pharaoh's chicken was a symbol of royalty and protection.
Advanced Usage
- The name "Pharaoh's chicken" originates from the bird's association with ancient Egyptian royalty and its scavenging habits, which were likened to a domestic chicken's pecking.
- It is considered an informal or folk name; the formal scientific and most common English name is "Egyptian vulture."
Variants and Related Words
- Egyptian vulture (n): The standard common name and synonym for "Pharaoh's chicken."
- (n): The scientific binomial name for the species.
Synonyms
- Egyptian vulture
- White scavenger vulture (less common)
Related Idioms or Phrases
- None directly associated: There are no widely used idioms or phrasal verbs incorporating the term "Pharaoh's chicken." It functions solely as a noun naming a specific animal.
Noun
- small mostly white vulture of Africa and southern Eurasia