Bowerbird
/ˈbaʊ.ərˌbɜːd/noun
Any of several Australian birds known for the male's elaborate decorative courtship structures, called bowers.
Did you know?The name comes from the bird’s real behavior: males construct and decorate bowers, and the word bower itself goes back to Old English būr, meaning a dwelling or chamber.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
būr
“a dwelling, chamber, or small enclosed room”
Middle English
ME
bower
“a pleasant dwelling or leafy arbor; later, a shelter or decorative retreat”
19th Century
English
bower bird
“a bird that builds a bower-like display structure”
Modern English
English
bowerbird
“an Australian bird whose males construct and ornament bowers for courtship”