bromvoël, noun
- Forms:
- Show more Formerly also broem vogel, bromfogel, brom vogel, brom-voegel, bromme vogel.
- Origin:
- Afrikaans, DutchShow more Afrikaans, brom (from Dutch brommen) to growl, mutter + voël (earlier Dutch vogel) bird; see also quotation 1867.
obs. except in historical contexts
The hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri of the Bucerotidae; rainbird sense 2; turkey buzzard.
1827 G. Thompson Trav. 353If a person kill by accident a mayhem, (or Balearic crane) or one of those birds which the Colonists call brom-vogel,..he is obliged to sacrifice a calf or young ox in atonement.
1994 M. Roberts tr. of J.A. Wahlberg’s Trav. Jrnls 1838–56 35Bromfogel. He throws his food up into the air and allows it to fall into his gullet.