marabou Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun large African black-and-white carrion-eating stork; its downy underwing feathers are used to trim garments
    marabou stork; Leptoptilus crumeniferus; marabout.
  2. noun the downy feathers of marabou storks are used for trimming garments

WordNet

Mar`a*bou" noun
Etymology
F.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) A large stork of the genus Leptoptilos (formerly Ciconia), esp. the African species (L. crumenifer), which furnishes plumes worn as ornaments. The Asiatic species (L. dubius, or L. argala) is the adjutant. See Adjutant. Written also marabu.
  2. One having five eighths negro blood; the offspring of a mulatto and a griffe. Louisiana Bartlett.

Webster 1913