ˈboat-bill
[f. boat n. + bill n.2]
A genus of birds (Cancroma) belonging to the Heron tribe; esp. the species C. cochlearia of South America, so called from the shape of its bill.
| 1776 P. Brown Illustr. Zool. 92 The Boat-Bill. 1836 Penny Cycl. V. 28/2 The common boat-bill is about the size of a domestic hen. 1862 Wood Nat. Hist. Birds 678 The very remarkable Boat-bill Heron inhabits Southern America. |