skua
/'skju:ə/
Definition
- Noun:
- A seabird of the family Stercorariidae: A predatory, gull-like bird found in northern seas and coastal regions, known for its aggressive behavior of chasing other birds to steal their food.
- Jaeger: Another common name for this type of bird, particularly in North America.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- We spotted a skua harassing a tern until it dropped its catch.
- The great skua is a formidable predator in its northern habitat.
Advanced Usage
- "To skua" (verb, rare/informal): To steal or scavenge food aggressively, analogous to the bird's behavior.
- The smaller gulls will often try to skua fish from the pelicans.
Variants and Related Words
- Jaeger: A direct synonym, often used for the smaller species within the skua family.
- Bonxie (informal, chiefly Scottish): A colloquial name for the Great Skua ().
- Stercorariidae: The scientific family name for skuas and jaegers.
Synonyms
- Jaeger: A predatory seabird, especially of the genus .
- Seabird predator: A descriptive term for its ecological role.
Related Phrases
- Skua attack: Describes the bird's characteristic behavior of chasing other birds.
- The puffin colony was disrupted by a sudden skua attack.
Related Idioms
- Like a skua on the hunt: Used to describe someone acting with aggressive, predatory intent.
- The lawyer went after the witness's testimony like a skua on the hunt.
Noun
-
gull-like jaeger of northern seas
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