dodo

Everyday

1. The dodo was a large, plump bird that could not fly and lived only on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean; it became extinct after sailors arrived and hunted it, and brought animals that ate its eggs. tree →
2. «As dead as a dodo» means completely gone or finished. tree →
3. (informal) A dodo can mean an old-fashioned or silly person. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons the dodo is the most famous example of extinction caused by humans: it had no natural predators, so it was not afraid of people. Pupils learn how island animals are at risk and why conservation matters. In stories, a Dodo appears in «Alice's Adventures in Wonderland». In everyday talk, «dead as a dodo» means something has totally ended.

Examples

• The dodo lived only on the island of Mauritius. tree →
• The dodo could not fly. tree →
• Dodos became extinct soon after sailors arrived. tree →
• The dodo was not afraid of people, so it was easy to catch. tree →
• A Dodo runs a race in «Alice in Wonderland». tree →
• That old game is as dead as a dodo. tree →
• We saw a model of a dodo in the museum. tree →

Note

Plural «dodos» or «dodoes». Myth: the dodo was not stupid or clumsy; it just had never met dangerous animals. It was a kind of pigeon, a very large one.

In Jewish tradition

It is not the extinct bird here. It is a Hebrew personal name, Dodo, the father or ancestor of some of David's mighty men.

Interpretation. Eleazar and Elhanan, sons of Dodo, are listed among David's mighty warriors, and the tradition honors them as heroes of his army.

Examples

• Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem; (Prophets 2SA.23.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• Also the mighty men of valour: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem; (Writings 1CH.11.26, JPS 1917) tree →
• And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. (Writings 1CH.11.12, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural «dodos» or «dodoes». Myth: the dodo was not stupid or clumsy; it just had never met dangerous animals. It was a kind of pigeon, a very large one.