What does lory mean?
A lory is one of a group of brightly coloured parrots native to Australasia. The term is often used broadly for Australasian parrots that feed heavily on nectar and pollen, including birds commonly called lorikeets. Many lories possess a specialised brush-tipped tongue, which allows them to extract nectar from flowers efficiently. Although the word can sound familiar from the bird’s vivid plumage, its most interesting feature is the close relationship between its anatomy and diet. The name is also the source of the related word “lorikeet.” In ordinary English, “lory” is uncommon compared with the broader term “parrot,” but it is useful in wildlife, zoological, and conservation writing when greater precision is wanted.
nounAny of various brightly coloured parrots native to Australasia, many of which have brush-tipped tongues adapted for feeding on nectar and pollen.
- A parrot belonging to the Australasian group commonly called lories, many species of which have brush-tipped tongues.
"A pair of lories fed on nectar in the flowering tree."
"The zoo keeper gave the lory a piece of fresh fruit."
"A flock of lories gathered around the flowering eucalyptus."
The plural replaces the final y with ies: lories, not lorys.
"Several lories were feeding among the blossoms."
A lory’s brush-tipped tongue is nature’s specialist tool for reaching deep into flowers for nectar.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lory come from?
The English word was borrowed through New Latin as lōrium, generally traced to a Malay term for a parrot. It became established in English during the 19th century and was later applied more narrowly to a group of Australasian parrots known for their brush-like tongues.
Related word forms
How lory is actually used
The word is chiefly used in ornithological and wildlife contexts. In general reference works, it may refer to the broader group that includes lories and lorikeets, so the precise taxonomic scope can vary slightly by source.
Easily confused with lory
A lory is a parrot, whereas a loris is a small, slow-moving primate native to Asia.