Guillemot
/ˈɡɪlɪmɒt/noun
A seabird of the auk family, especially one of the genus Uria.
Did you know?English guillemot comes through French from a personal name, likely a diminutive of Guillaume, showing how a casual nickname can be locked into the language of natural history.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle Ages
French
guillemot
“a personal name or nickname, later used for the seabird”
14th–15th Century
Middle French
guillemot
“a diminutive form of Guillaume, used as a male given name”
Old High German
OHG
Willahelm
“personal name meaning 'will/desire' + 'helmet/protection'”
Old French
French
Guillaume
“the name William”
17th Century
English
guillemot
“the name of a seabird, borrowed from French”