os|trich

os|trich «AWS trihch, OS-», noun, adjective.

–n.

1. a large bird of Africa that can run fast but cannot fly. Ostriches have two toes and are the largest of existing birds. They have large feathers or plumes which were much used as ornaments. In former times it was believed that an ostrich buried its head in the sand to avoid oncoming dangers.

2. = rhea. (Cf. ↑rhea)

3. Figurative. a person who refuses to face reality or an approaching danger: »

Over the last decade Ministers had acted like economic ostriches (London Times).

–adj.

= ostrichlike: (Cf. ↑ostrichlike) »

Figurative. These ostrich attitudes are like the frivolity of those who deny the reality of [evil] by refusing to think about it (Time).

╂[< Old French ostrusce < Vulgar Latin avis strūthiō < Latin avis bird + Late Latin strūthiō, -ōnis ostrich < Late Greek strouthíōn < Greek strouthós (mégas) (great) sparrow]