A South African term for a bustard, particularly the Kori bustard (Ardeotis kori) or the Ludwig's bustard — large, ground-dwelling birds native to African savannas and grasslands. The word comes from Afrikaans and Dutch, meaning 'peacock' (reflecting early Dutch settlers' use of familiar bird names for unfamiliar species). Bustards are impressive birds, among the heaviest flying birds in Africa, and 'paauw' remains in use in South African hunting, birding, and wildlife contexts.
The hunter's greatest trophy was a paauw he shot on the Karoo flats decades ago.
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(South Africa) A kind of bustard.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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