albatross

Probably from Spanish or Portuguese alcatraz (“pelican, gannet, albatross”), probably derived from Arabic الْغَطَّاس‎ (al-ḡaṭṭās, “the diver”); or from Portuguese alcatruz (“water wheel bucket”), from Arabic الْقَادُوس‎ (al-qādūs), from Ancient Greek κάδος (kádos, “pail, jar”), in reference to the pouch of a pelican.[1] In either case, altered under the influence of Latin albus (“white”). Not derived from modern Arabic قَطْرَس‎ (qaṭras, “albatross”), which is perhaps borrowed from Spanish.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈæl.bəˌtɹɒs/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈæl.bəˌtɹɔs/
• (cot–caught merger, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈæl.bəˌtɹɑs/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

An Albatross

albatross (plural albatross or albatrosses)

1. Any of various large seabirds of the family Diomedeidae ranging widely in the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific and having a hooked beak and long narrow wings.
2. (golf) A double eagle, or three under par on any one hole, except a par 3 hole.

• gooney bird
• gooney
• goonie

See albatross around one’s neck.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈæl.bəˌtɹɒs/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈæl.bəˌtɹɔs/
• (cot–caught merger, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈæl.bəˌtɹɑs/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

albatross (plural albatrosses)

1. (figuratively) A long-term impediment, burden, or curse.
   • 2006 March 13, Richard Lugar, speech to the Brookings Institution,

     […] energy is the albatross of U.S. national security.

• albatross around one's neck

albatross m (definite singular albatrossen, indefinite plural albatrosser, definite plural albatrossene)

1. albatross

albatross m (definite singular albatrossen, indefinite plural albatrossar, definite plural albatrossane)

1. albatross

• IPA^(key): /ˈalbatrɔs/, /ˈalbatˌrɔs/, /ˌalbatˈrɔs/

albatross c (definite plural albatrossen, indefinite plural albatrosser, definite plural albatrosserna)

1. albatross
2. (golf) an albatross or double eagle (a score of three strokes under par for a hole)