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Emu

//ˈiːmjuː// name, noun, slang

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A constellation or asterism from Australian aborigine cultures, a dark constellation pattern formed by an arrangement of dark nebulae in the sky, blotting out background stars, appearing akin to the emu (giant bird of Australia).
  2. 2
    Initialism of European Monetary Union. European-Union, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
  3. 3
    A locality in the Shire of Loddon, Shire of Central Goldfields and the Shire of Northern Grampians, north western Victoria, Australia
  4. 4
    Initialism of Eastern Mennonite University. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Noun
  1. 1
    A large flightless bird native to Australia, Dromaius novaehollandiae.

    "[page 59] The Emu, though not ſo as large as the oſtrich, is only ſecond to it in magnitude. It is by much the largeſt bird in the New Continent; and is generally found to be ſix feet high, meaſuring from its head to the ground. […] [page 60] [T]he emu runs with ſuch a ſwiftneſs, that the fleeteſt dogs are thrown out in the purſuit."

  2. 2
    Initialism of electromagnetic unit. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism

    "A bar magnet NS has poles of strength 144 emu, 5 cm apart."

  3. 3
    Clipping of emulator. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, informal

    "Saw this article for playing downloadable games on GBA. It's an official Nintendo product in Japan, and thought it might be useful for Nintendo to release actual emus and some of their older game properties (beyond the $20 classic series)."

  4. 4
    Initialism of English metric unit (“1/360,000-th of a centimetre, or, 1/914400-th of an inch”). abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  5. 5
    large Australian flightless bird similar to the ostrich but smaller wordnet
Show 7 more definitions
  1. 6
    A cassowary (genus Casuarius). obsolete

    "[page 1] 1. EGGES. Caſſawary, or Emeu, vide Aldrov: p. 542. Harveum, G.A. p. 61. […] [page 3] 4. CLAWES. […] A legge and claw of the Caſſawary or Emeu that dyed at S. James’s, Weſtminſter."

  2. 7
    Initialism of electric multiple unit. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism

    "The Government has thrown a lifeline to Alstom's Derby Works, with an offer of an order for ten Class 345 nine-car electric multiple units (EMUs) for the Elizabeth line - but only if the 'price is right'."

  3. 8
    any of various systems of units for measuring electricity and magnetism wordnet
  4. 9
    Alternative form of emu or e.m.u.; Initialism of electromagnetic unit. alt-of, alternative, countable, uncountable
  5. 10
    Initialism of engine management unit. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  6. 11
    Initialism of extravehicular mobility unit (“spacesuit”). abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
  7. 12
    Initialism of economic and monetary union. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable

Etymology

Etymology 1

Probably from Portuguese ema (“(originally) cassowary; giant rhea; (now) ostrich”).

Etymology 2

From e(lectro)m(agnetic) u(nit).

Etymology 3

From emu(lator).

Etymology 4

From emu (“ratite”). Calque of Australian aboriginal languages name of the sky pattern, named after the giant bird of Australia, for which it appears akin to.

See also for "emu"

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