sb. and a. Ornith. [ad. mod.L. Steganopodes, pl. (Illiger, 1811), a. Gr. στεγανοποδ-, -όπους (Aristotle), web-footed, f. στεγανό-ς covered + ποδ-, πούς foot.] a. sb. A bird belonging to the group Steganopodes, which comprises the pelicans, cormorants, frigate-birds, gannets, tropic-birds, and snake birds (Newton, Dict. Ornith., 904). b. adj. Of a bird: Belonging to the group Steganopodes.
Somewhat rare, the mod.L. form being usual for the sb. pl.
1842. Brande, Dict. Sci., etc., Steganopods.
So Steganopodan, Steganopodous adjs., belonging to the group Steganopodes.
1887. Newton, in Encycl. Brit., XXII. 188/2. Eggs with the white chalky shell that is so characteristic of most Steganopodous birds.
