Forms: 6 (fleming), flemengo, 7–8 flemingo, flamenco, 7– flamingo. See also FLEMING, FLAMAN. [a. Pg. flamengo, Sp. flamenco, Pr. flamenc, according to Hatzf.-Darm. f. Rom. flama FLAME sb. + suffix -enc (a. Teut. -ing) often appended in Pr. and occas. in OF. to sbs. of L. origin. The F. name, flamant, is believed to be an alteration of the Pr. form; cf. OF. ferrant iron-gray, from ferrenc. So called from the colour.]
1. A bird of the genus Phœnicopterus, with bright scarlet plumage, extremely long and slender legs and neck, and a heavy bent bill.
1565. J. Sparke, in Hakluyt, Voy., III. 520. The fowle of the fresh riuers … whereof the Flemengo is one, hauing all redde feathers, and long redde legs like a Herne, a necke according to the bill redde, whereof the vpper nebbe hangeth an inche ouer the nether.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. 212. In this Ile are sundry other Birds, as … Passe-flemingoes.
1697. Dampier, Voy. (1729), I. 70. I saw a few Flamingo’s, which is a sort of large Fowl, much like a Heron in shape, but bigger, and of a reddish colour.
1867. Jean Ingelow, Songs on Voices Birds, Sandmartins.
| When should they dip their breasts again and play | |
| In slumberous azure pools clear as the air, | |
| Where rosy-winged flamingos fish all day, | |
| Stalking amid the lotus blossom fair? |
2. attrib. and Comb., as flamingo-legged adj.; flamingo flower or plant, a name for Anthurium scherzerianum.
1861. Thornbury, Turner, I. 14. ‘That’s old Turner the barber,’ says a flamingo-legged footman as he leaves some glass he is wiping.
1882. The Garden, XXI. 1 April, 212/2. The Flamingo flower. Ibid., 9 Sept., 226/1. The Flamingo plant.
