albatross
n.n. a very large bird with long wings that lives in the ocean. It is famous for flying very far and for being a symbol of something that causes trouble or bad luck.
n. a large, long-winged seabird belonging to the family Diomedeidae. Often used metaphorically to represent a burden or a source of misfortune.
The albatross flew over the ship for hours.
The sailor felt a heavy albatross on his chest after he accidentally killed the bird.
The albatross is a master of dynamic soaring, using the wind currents to travel vast distances across the open ocean with minimal effort.
Uncertain. Probably from Spanish or Portuguese alcatraz (“pelican, gannet, albatross”), probably derived from Arabic الْغَطَّاس (al-ḡaṭṭās, “the diver”) (compare Alcatraz); or from Portuguese alcatruz (“water wheel bucket”), from Arabic الْقَادُوس (al-qādūs), from Ancient Greek κάδος (kádos, “pail, jar”), in reference to the pouch of a pelican. In either case, altered under the influence of Latin albus (“white”). Not derived from modern Arabic قَطْرَس (qaṭras, “albatross”), which is perhaps borrowed from Spanish. For sense development of "burden", see albatross around one’s neck.