Alcedo
/ælˈsiːdoʊ/noun
A genus of small kingfishers found mainly in Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Did you know?Alcedo ultimately connects with the ancient Greek halcyon, the legendary bird said to nest on the sea and calm winter storms during the ‘halcyon days.’
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀλκυών (alkuṓn)
“The halcyon or kingfisher, a bird associated with a myth of calming the sea.”
Classical Latin
Latin
alcēdō
“A kingfisher; a Latin form associated with the Greek bird-name.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
alcedo
“Kingfisher, preserved in zoological and scholarly usage.”
1758
Scientific Latin
Alcedo
“A genus established by Carl Linnaeus for kingfishers.”
Modern English
English
Alcedo
“The recognized zoological genus containing several kingfisher species.”
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