11 May 2009

Flamingo


A flamingo rested in its enclosure at the zoo in the Osnabrueck, Germany, during a rain shower Wednesday... (David Hecker/AFP/Getty Images) (via)
I'm not sure re the etymology of the word; it appears to be tied to flama = flame, but also to Fleming and flamenco re gypsy. Doesn't matter. Beautiful coloration.

1 comment:

  1. From etymonline.com:
    1565, from Port. flamengo, Sp. flamengo, lit. "flame-colored" (cf Gk. phoinikopteros "flamingo," lit. "red-feathered"), from Prov. flamenc, from flama "flame" + Gmc. suffix -enc "-ing, belonging to."

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