[ noun ] flightless birds having flat breastbones lacking a keel for attachment of flight muscles: ostriches; cassowaries; emus; moas; rheas; kiwis; elephant birds <noun.animal>
Ratite \Rat"ite\ (r[a^]t"[imac]t), a. (Zo["o]l.) Of or pertaining to the Ratit[ae]. -- n. One of the Ratit[ae].