a large swift-running flightless bird of N Africa, the largest of existing birds, that has dark plumage, a naked head, long legs, and two toes on each foot: Struthio camelus
a person who refuses to face up to unpleasant realities
[Middle English via French from vulgar Latin avis struthio, from Latin avis bird + struthio ostrich, ultimately from Greek strouthos; (sense 2) from the belief that the ostrich when pursued hides its head in the sand and believes itself to be unseen]