Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.94

c10.94

"The feathers known as Marabou or Comercolly feathers, and sold in Calcutta, are the tail-coverts of this, and the *Lept. Javanica*, another and smaller species" (*Jerdon*). The name *marabout* (from the Ar. *murābit*, 'quiet,' and thence 'a hermit,' through the Port. *marabuto*) seems to have been given to the bird in Africa on like reason to that of adjutant in India. [Comercolly, properly Kumārkhāli, is a town in the Nadiya District, Bengal. See *Balfour, Cycl.* i. 1082.]