South America and other places
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
It is composed of the droppings of the immense flocks of sea- birds that resort to these rocky islets, and is found in beds as much as 60 ft. in depth.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “South America and other places” mean?
It is composed of the droppings of the immense flocks of sea- birds that resort to these rocky islets, and is found in beds as much as 60 ft. in depth.
Is “South America and other places” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.