moa

mo·a  (m)

n.

Any of various flightless ostrichlike birds of the family Dinornithidae, native to New Zealand and extinct for over a century.

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[Maori.]

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moa [ˈməʊə]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any large flightless bird of the recently extinct order Dinornithiformes of New Zealand (see ratite)

[from Maori]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

moa - extinct flightless bird of New Zealand flightless bird, ratite, ratite bird - flightless birds having flat breastbones lacking a keel for attachment of flight muscles: ostriches; cassowaries; emus; moas; rheas; kiwis; elephant birds Dinornithidae, family Dinornithidae - moas Dinornis giganteus, giant moa - the largest moa; about 12 feet high anomalopteryx, Anomalopteryx oweni - the smallest moa; slender moa about the size of a large turkey