‖n. [ Gr. 'a priv. + pte`ryx wing. Cf. Aptera. ] (Zool.) A genus of New Zealand birds about the size of a hen, with only short rudiments of wings, armed with a claw and without a tail; the kiwi. It is allied to the gigantic extinct moas of the same country. Five species are known. [ 1913 Webster ]
(n) nocturnal flightless bird of New Zealand having a long neck and stout legs; only surviving representative of the order Apterygiformes, Syn. apteryx