cockatoo n 1: white or light-colored crested parrot of the Australian region; often kept as cage birds
Cockatoo \Cock`a*too"\ (k[o^]k`[.a]*t[=oo]"), n. [Malayan kakat[=u]a.] (Zool.) A bird of the Parrot family, of the subfamily {Cacatuin[ae]}, having a short, strong, and much curved beak, and the head ornamented with a crest, which can be raised or depressed at will. There are several genera and many species; as the {broad-crested cockatoo} ({Plictolophus cristatus} or {Cacatua cristatus}), the sulphur-crested ({Cacatua galerita} or {Plictolophus galeritus}), etc. The {palm cockatoo} or {great black cockatoo} of Australia is {Probosciger aterrimus} (formerly {Microglossus aterrimus}). [1913 Webster +PJC]