fulmar
2 synonyms for fulmar, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Either of two related species of pelagic seabird in the genus Fulmarus that nest on sea cliffs.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
fulmar-petrel
stinker
How to use fulmar
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a fulmar colony
nesting fulmars
northern fulmar
southern fulmar
It is a neutral, everyday name used in ordinary birdwatching and nature writing.
Etymology
The word comes from Icelandic fulmar, which traces back to Old Norse fulmar, itself a combination of the Old Norse words for foul and gull. The name is thought to refer to the foul-smelling stomach oil the bird spits at anything that threatens it.
Full origin of fulmar →Frequently asked questions
What is a fulmar?
A fulmar is a seabird in the genus Fulmarus that spends much of its life over the open sea and nests on cliffs.
Why is it called a fulmar?
Its name comes from Old Norse words meaning foul and gull, a reference to the foul-smelling oil it spits to deter predators.
How many species of fulmar are there?
There are two: the northern fulmar and the southern fulmar.
