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albatross

   Also found in: Medical, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
al·ba·tross  (lb-trôs, -trs)
n. pl. albatross or al·ba·tross·es
1. Any of several large web-footed birds constituting the family Diomedeidae, chiefly of the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere, and having a hooked beak and long narrow wings.
2.
a. A constant, worrisome burden.
b. An obstacle to success.

[Probably alteration (influenced by Latin albus, white) of alcatras, pelican, from Portuguese or Spanish alcatraz, from Arabic al-as : al-, the + as, diver, sea eagle (from aasa, to plunge, dive; see s in Semitic roots). Sense 2, after the albatross in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, which the mariner killed and had to wear around his neck as a penance.]

albatross [ˈælbəˌtrɒs]
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any large oceanic bird of the genera Diomedea and Phoebetria, family Diomedeidae, of cool southern oceans: order Procellariiformes (petrels). They have long narrow wings and are noted for a powerful gliding flight See also wandering albatross
2. a constant and inescapable burden or handicap an albatross of debt
3. (Individual Sports & Recreations) Golf a score of three strokes under par for a hole
[from Portuguese alcatraz pelican, from Arabic al-ghattās, from al the + ghattās white-tailed sea eagle; influenced by Latin albus white: C20 in sense 2, from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798) by English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.albatross - (figurative) something that hinders or handicaps; "she was an albatross around his neck"
deterrent, hinderance, hindrance, impediment, balk, baulk, handicap, check - something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
2.albatross - large web-footed birds of the southern hemisphere having long narrow wings; noted for powerful gliding flight
oceanic bird, pelagic bird - bird of the open seas
Diomedea exulans, wandering albatross - very large albatross; white with wide black wings
black-footed albatross, Diomedea nigripes, gooney, gooney bird, goonie, goony - a variety of albatross with black feet

albatross
noun
an albatross around your neck burden, worry, trouble, trial, weight, heavy responsibility, stress, anxiety, liability, obstruction, millstone, encumbrance The drive towards privatization could become a political albatross around the party's neck
Translations
albatross [ˈælbətrɒs] N
1. (Orn) → albatros m inv
2. (fig) (= burden) → rémora f
to be an albatross around sb's necksuponer una rémora para algn
3. (Golf) → albatros m inv, menos tres m
albatross [ˈælbətrɒs] n (= bird) → albatros m
albatross
nAlbatros m; to be an albatross around somebody’s neckein Mühlstein mum jds Hals sein
albatross [ˈælbətrɒs] nalbatro


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Knowing that the Albatross would beat her to Sydney, the captain of the Albatross had undertaken to look up the dog.
Then when to the sailors all hope seemed lost, an albatross came sailing through the fog.
His first thoughts were for the welfare of Astoria, and, concluding that the inhabitants would probably be in want of provisions, he chartered the Albatross for two thousand dollars, to land him, with some supplies, at the mouth of the Columbia, where he arrived, as we have seen, on the 20th of August, after a year's seafaring that might have furnished a chapter in the wanderings of Sinbad.
 
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