mignattaio

Italian
Un mignattaio – A glossy ibis

Etymology

Derived from mignatta (“leech”) +‎ -aio (suffix denoting an occupation). The zoological sense derived from the archaic belief that the bird fed on leeches.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /miɲ.ɲatˈta.jo/, [miɲɲät̪ˈt̪äːjo]
  • Hyphenation: mi‧gnat‧tà‧io

Noun

mignattaio m (plural mignattai)

  1. (archaic):
    1. A person who collects and sells leeches.
    2. A person who applies leeches to the sick.
  2. glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

Anagrams
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