moa
noun
ˈmō-ə 
: any of various usually very large extinct flightless birds of New Zealand of a ratite order (Dinornithiformes) including one (Dinornis giganteus of the family Dinornithidae) nearly 12 feet (3.7 meters) in height
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Certainly, the moa were, which would be enough to doom the predator. 
Boyce Upholt, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2022 Not only moa dominated avifaunas, but giant geese and adzebills shared the forest floor, while a giant eagle ruled the skies. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 6 Aug. 2019 These include the world's biggest parrot, a giant eagle, a giant burrowing bat, and the moa, a kind of large flightless bird. Jack Guy, CNN, 14 Aug. 2019 Now, the country’s roster of extinct bulky birds—which includes the massive moa and the huge Haast’s eagle—has grown even larger, with the discovery of a Paleocene-era penguin that stood as tall as a human. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, 14 Aug. 2019 New Zealand is believed to have been the site of many gigantic birds that later became extinct, including the world’s largest parrot, a giant eagle and an emu-like bird called the moa. Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2019 These include the world’s biggest parrot, a giant eagle, a giant burrowing bat, and the moa, a kind of large flightless bird. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2019 Extinct flightless birds—the moa of New Zealand and the dodo—were favorites, along with the Yangtze River dolphin. Amy Dockser Marcus, WSJ, 9 Oct. 2018 Giant Moa: Avian Skyscraper For millions of years, the giant moa consisted of nine species of ostrichlike flightless birds native to New Zealand. National Geographic, 15 May 2018 See More
Boyce Upholt, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2022 Not only moa dominated avifaunas, but giant geese and adzebills shared the forest floor, while a giant eagle ruled the skies. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 6 Aug. 2019 These include the world's biggest parrot, a giant eagle, a giant burrowing bat, and the moa, a kind of large flightless bird. Jack Guy, CNN, 14 Aug. 2019 Now, the country’s roster of extinct bulky birds—which includes the massive moa and the huge Haast’s eagle—has grown even larger, with the discovery of a Paleocene-era penguin that stood as tall as a human. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, 14 Aug. 2019 New Zealand is believed to have been the site of many gigantic birds that later became extinct, including the world’s largest parrot, a giant eagle and an emu-like bird called the moa. Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2019 These include the world’s biggest parrot, a giant eagle, a giant burrowing bat, and the moa, a kind of large flightless bird. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2019 Extinct flightless birds—the moa of New Zealand and the dodo—were favorites, along with the Yangtze River dolphin. Amy Dockser Marcus, WSJ, 9 Oct. 2018 Giant Moa: Avian Skyscraper For millions of years, the giant moa consisted of nine species of ostrichlike flightless birds native to New Zealand. National Geographic, 15 May 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Maori
First Known Use
1839, in the meaning defined above