n. any large gregarious waterfowl of the family Pelecanidae with a large bill and a pouch in the throat for storing fish.
Phrases and idioms:
pelican crossing (in the UK) a pedestrian crossing with traffic lights operated by pedestrians.
Etymology: OE pellican & OF pelican f. LL pelicanus f. Gk pelekan prob. f. pelekus axe, with ref. to its bill