C15 soland, of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse sūla gannet, ōnd duck
gannet in British English
(ˈɡænɪt)
noun
1.
any of several heavily built marine birds of the genus Morus (or Sula), having a long stout bill and typically white plumage with dark markings: family Sulidae, order Pelecaniformes (pelicans, cormorants, etc)
See also booby (sense 3)
2. slang
a gluttonous or greedy person
Word origin
Old English ganot; related to Old High German gannazzo gander
solan in American English
(ˈsoulən)
noun
a gannet
Also called: solan goose
Word origin
[1400–50; late ME soland ‹ ON sūla gannet + ǫnd duck]This word is first recorded in the period 1400–50. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: dial, oblique, partition, transit, trunk