grebe

noun

any diving bird of the family Podicipedidae, related to the loons, but having a rudimentary tail and lobate rather than webbed toes.

noun

any aquatic bird, such as Podiceps cristatus (great crested grebe), of the order Podicipediformes, similar to the divers but with lobate rather than webbed toes and a vestigial tail

diving bird, 1766, from French grèbe, of unknown origin, possibly from Breton krib “a comb,” since some species are crested.