Sea tern

Sea tern
Tern Tern (t[~e]rn), n. [Dan. terne, t[ae]rne; akin to Sw. t["a]rna, Icel. [thorn]erna; cf. NL. sterna.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of long-winged aquatic birds, allied to the gulls, and belonging to {Sterna} and various allied genera. [1913 Webster]

Note: Terns differ from gulls chiefly in their graceful form, in their weaker and more slender bills and feet, and their longer and more pointed wings. The tail is usually forked. Most of the species are white with the back and wings pale gray, and often with a dark head. The common European tern ({Sterna hirundo}) is found also in Asia and America. Among other American species are the arctic tern ({Sterna paradis[ae]a}), the roseate tern ({Sterna Dougalli}), the least tern ({Sterna Antillarum}), the royal tern ({Sterna maxima}), and the sooty tern ({Sterna fuliginosa}). [1913 Webster]

{Hooded tern}. See {Fairy bird}, under {Fairy}.

{Marsh tern}, any tern of the genus {Hydrochelidon}. They frequent marshes and rivers and feed largely upon insects.

{River tern}, any tern belonging to {Se["e]na} or allied genera which frequent rivers.

{Sea tern}, any tern of the genus {Thalasseus}. Terns of this genus have very long, pointed wings, and chiefly frequent seas and the mouths of large rivers. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Tern — (t[ e]rn), n. [Dan. terne, t[ae]rne; akin to Sw. t[ a]rna, Icel. [thorn]erna; cf. NL. sterna.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of long winged aquatic birds, allied to the gulls, and belonging to {Sterna} and various allied genera. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tern —   Noio, eki eki (Hawaiian); kenola, tenora.     Noddy tern, noio kōhā.     Gray backed tern (bridled, spectacled, or gray wide awake tern), pākalakala, kala.     Sooty tern, ewa ewa.     Sea tern, hoi a (Ni ihau).     White or fairy tern, manu o… …   English-Hawaiian dictionary

  • Sea-Bird II — (1962 1973), dit Sea Bird, est l un des chevaux de course les plus célèbres du XXe siècle dans les courses de plat. Il a remporté le Prix de l Arc de Triomphe et le Derby d Epsom en 1965. Sommaire 1 Carrière de courses 2 L Arc 1965 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Sea-bird ii — (1962 1973), dit Sea Bird, est l un des chevaux de course les plus célèbres du XXe siècle dans les courses de plat. Il a remporté le Prix de l Arc de Triomphe et le Derby d Epsom en 1965. Sommaire 1 Carrière de courses …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Sea Bird — II Sea Bird II (1962 1973), dit Sea Bird, est l un des chevaux de course les plus célèbres du XXe siècle dans les courses de plat. Il a remporté le Prix de l Arc de Triomphe et le Derby d Epsom en 1965. Sommaire 1 Carrière de courses …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Sea fowl — (Zo[ o]l.) Any bird which habitually frequents the sea, as an auk, gannet, gull, tern, or petrel; also, all such birds, collectively. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sea-bar — [sea bar ‘the sea swallow or tern’ (in mod. Dicts.), comes from a misprinted entry in Ainsworth Eng. Lat. Dict. (1736) which should read ‘Sea bat, hirundo piscis’ (i.e. the flying fish). ] …   Useful english dictionary

  • tern — [tə:n US tə:rn] n [Date: 1600 1700; Origin: From a Scandinavian language] a black and white sea bird that has long wings and a tail with two points …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • tern — [tʉrn] n. [< ON therna, via E Anglian dial.; akin to OE stearna] any of several shorebirds (family Laridae) with webbed feet, a deeply forked tail, a straight bill, and a slender body; sea swallow …   English World dictionary

  • Sea swallow — Sea swal low 1. (Zo[ o]l.) (a) The common tern. (b) The storm petrel. (c) The gannet. [1913 Webster] 2. (Her.) See {Cornish chough}, under {Chough}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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