condor

Definition

Either of two New World vultures, Vultur gryphus of the Andes or Gymnogyps californianus, a nearly extinct vulture of the mountains of California.

Etymology

From Spanish cóndor, from Classical Quechua kuntur. The change /t/ to /d/ was characteristic of the "coastal" variety of the language.

Example Sentences

• "The condor lays a couple of eggs and the ostrich a score, and yet in the same country the condor may be the more numerous of the two: the Fulmar petrel lays but one egg, yet it is believed to be the most numerous bird in the world."