Re: Japanese Seabird Names for Gaijin

["Susan Myers" <>]

> "Mollymawk" is Portugese(?) for "foolish gull", so presumably "ahoudori"
> has the same origin.
Paul, presumably this is an Anglicised version of the original, do you know
what the pure form of the word is? Interestingly, Japan had a long
historical association with the Portuguese (& Dutch). I wonder who
influenced who in this case....
Also:
On further research I find that the name for the Pterodroma petrels
"mizunagidori" probably means "calm water bird" (from an obscure verb
"nagu" meaning calm or lull). I've never noticed it being particularly calm
when I've observed them but maybe it's all relative! Presumably Japanese
fishermen have been familiar with seabirds for many centuries & know
something of their behaviour, can anyone enlighten us on why these birds
may have acquired this name?

Susan Myers
Email:Susan Myers