woodpecker

From wood +‎ pecker. Compare Middle English wod spek (“woodpecker”), Middle English wodehake (“woodpecker”), Middle English wodewale (“woodpecker”).

• (UK) enPR: wo͝odʹpĕkər, IPA^(key): /ˈwʊdpɛkə/

• Audio (RP)

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• (US) enPR: wo͝odʹpĕ'kər, IPA^(key): /ˈwʊdˌpɛkɚ/
• Hyphenation: wood‧peck‧er

woodpecker (plural woodpeckers)

1. Any bird of species-rich family Picidae, with a strong pointed beak suitable for pecking holes in wood.
   • 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, H.L. Brækstad, transl., Folk and Fairy Tales, page 89:

     On its summit towered aloft the fir tree which has often been referred to, like a mighty mast, full of woodpeckers' holes.

2. (military slang) Type 92 heavy machine gun

• speight, spight

• picid

• flicker

• peckerwood