[mar.a.bou] also mar.a.bout n [F marabout, lit., marabout] (1823) 1 a: a soft feathery fluffy material prepared from turkey feathers or the coverts of marabous and used esp. for trimming women's hats or clothes b marabou: a large dark gray African stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) that has a distensible pouch of pink skin at the front of the neck and feeds esp. on carrion--called also marabou stork
2. a: a thrown silk usu. dyed in the gum b: a fabric made of this silk