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gua·cha·ro or guá·cha·ro

(gwächə-rō′)

n. pl. gua·cha·ros or guá·cha·ros

A nightjar (Steatornis caripensis) of northern South America that roosts in caves and eats fruit. The young birds were formerly collected for their fat, which was used for cooking oil. Also called oilbird.

[American Spanish guácharo, from guacho, vagabond, from Quechua wakcha, wahcha, poor person, orphan (the bird perhaps being so called because of its plaintive cries).]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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