Forms: 7 corrosou, -so, -reso, 8 curasso, -raçoa, 8–9 curassao, 9 -sow. [A phonetic spelling of the name of the island Curaçao (kūrasāu·).] One of a family of gallinaceous birds found in Central and South America; they have a general resemblance to the turkey, and several species are domesticated.
The most common species, to which the name corrosou or Curaçao-bird was originally applied, is the Crested Curassow, Crax alector, of a greenish-black color with a white crest; the Galeated Curassow or Cushew-bird, Pauxis galeata, has a large bony protuberance on the upper part of the bill.
1685. L. Wafer, Voy. (1729), 334. The Corrosou is a large black land-bird, heavy and lig as a turkey-hen.
1699. Dampier, Voy., II. II. 67. The Correso…. The Cock has a Crown of black Feathers on his Head, and appears very stately.
1837. Penny Cycl., VIII. 129/2.
1847. Carpenter, Zool., § 430. The Crested Curassow is one of the most common Birds of Guiana.
1852. Th. Ross, trans. Humboldt’s Trav., II. xviii. 162. The cries of the Curassao … and other gallinaceous birds.
attrib. 1756. P. Browne, Jamaica (1779), 470. The Curaçoa Bird.
1863. Bates, Nat. Amazons, ix. (1864), 262. We were amused at the excessive … tameness of a fine Mutum or Curassow turkey.
