any terrestrial bird of the family Otididae, inhabiting open regions of the Old World: order Gruiformes (cranes, rails, etc). They have long strong legs, a heavy body, a long neck, and speckled plumage
Word origin
C15: from Old French bistarde, influenced by Old French oustarde, both from Latin avis tarda slow bird
bustard in American English
(ˈbʌstərd)
noun
any of a family (Otididae) of large, heavy, long-legged gruiform birds of Europe, Asia, and Africa
Word origin
ME < OFr bistarde (< OIt bistarda) & ostarde, both < L avis tarda, lit., slow bird, prob. folk etym. for name of Iberian orig.