capercaillie
2 synonyms for capercaillie, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A large black grouse, especially the western capercaillie.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
wood grouse
capercailzie
How to use capercaillie
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
western capercaillie
a male capercaillie
It is a specific bird name used mostly in nature writing and birdwatching.
Etymology
English took the word from Scots capercailzie, which is a corruption of Scottish Gaelic words meaning horse and of the woods.
Full origin of capercaillie →Frequently asked questions
What is a capercaillie?
A capercaillie is a large, black grouse. The best known species is the western capercaillie.
How do you pronounce capercaillie?
In British English it is kap-uh-KAY-lee, with the stress on the third syllable.
Where does the word capercaillie come from?
It comes from Scots capercailzie, itself a corruption of Scottish Gaelic words for horse and of the woods.
