1. Large web-footed birds of the Southern Hemisphere having long narrow wings; noted for powerful gliding flight
   "Mollymawks, a type of albatross, can soar for hours without flapping their wings";
   - mollymawk
    
2. (figurative) something that hinders or handicaps
   "she was an albatross around his neck";
   - millstone

Derived forms: albatrosses

Type of: balk, baulk [Brit], check, deterrent, handicap, hinderance [rare], hindrance, impediment, oceanic bird, pelagic bird

Part of: Diomedeidae, family Diomedeidae

Encyclopedia: Albatross, Missouri