‖ jacana prop. ja{cced}ana.
(ˈdʒækənə, dʒasəˈnɑː)
Also jassana.
[Tupi-Guarani jasaná, in Pg. spelling ja{cced}aná. (See Newton Dict. Birds.)]
Any bird of the genus Parra (Jacana) or family Parridæ (Jacanidæ), consisting of grallatorial aquatic birds inhabiting the warmer regions of the world, having enormous straight claws, which enable them to walk on the floating leaves of aquatic plants.
| [1648 Marcgrave Hist. Nat. Brasil. 190 Iacana Brasiliensibus, gallina aquatica.] 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp., Jacana, the name of a Brasilian bird, a species of moor-hen. 1797 tr. Buffon's Nat. Hist. XIII. 243 (L.) The jacana..is most common in South America. 1820 Neuwied Trav. Brazil iii. 25 Large flocks appeared of Jassanas. 1888 R. Buchanan City of Dream ix. 195 And walking upon floating lotus leaves The red jacana screamed. 1895 C. Dixon in Fortn. Rev. Apr. 652 The Parridæ or jacanas, those curious long-toed birds that run over the floating vegetation of the marshes and swamps of the tropics. |