ooievaarsbek
Dutch
editEtymology
editFrom ooievaar (“stork”) + -s- + bek (“animal's mouth, beak, bill”). The name refers to the fruit capsule of many species of this genus, which somewhat resembles a stork's bill in shape (see picture). Compare reigersbek (“erodium, storksbill”), which has similar elongated fruits and is similarly named after a bird with an elongated beak.
The genus name Geranium is similarly derived from the Ancient Greek γεράνιον (geránion), a derivate of the word γέρανος (géranos) meaning "crane", another long-billed bird.
Pronunciation
editAudio: (file)
Noun
editooievaarsbek m (plural ooievaarsbekken, diminutive ooievaarsbekje n)
- a geranium, cranesbill; any plant of the genus Geranium
- Synonym: geranium
- Hypernym: ooievaarsbekfamilie