whydah bird

whydah bird
Whidah bird Whid"ah bird`, (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of finchlike birds belonging to the genus {Vidua}, native of Asia and Africa. In the breeding season the male has very long, drooping tail feathers. Called also {vida finch}, {whidah finch}, {whydah bird}, {whydah finch}, {widow bird}, and {widow finch}. [1913 Webster]

Note: Some of the species are often kept as cage birds, especially {Vidua paradisea}, which is dark brownish above, pale buff beneath, with a reddish collar around the neck. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Whydah bird — Whyd ah bird , or Whydah finch Whyd ah finch (Zo[ o]l.) The whidah bird. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whydah (bird) — or whydah [hwid′ə, wid′ə] n. 〚altered < widow bird, by assoc. with Ouidah (sometimes sp. Whidah), seaport in Dahomey〛 any of several chiefly brown and black, African passerine birds (family Ploceidae): the male has long, drooping tail feathers… …   Universalium

  • whydah (bird) — or whydah [hwid′ə, wid′ə] n. [altered < widow bird, by assoc. with Ouidah (sometimes sp. Whidah), seaport in Dahomey] any of several chiefly brown and black, African passerine birds (family Ploceidae): the male has long, drooping tail feathers …   English World dictionary

  • whydah (bird) — or whydah [hwid′ə, wid′ə] n. [altered < widow bird, by assoc. with Ouidah (sometimes sp. Whidah), seaport in Dahomey] any of several chiefly brown and black, African passerine birds (family Ploceidae): the male has long, drooping tail feathers …   English World dictionary

  • Whydah finch — Whydah bird Whyd ah bird , or Whydah finch Whyd ah finch (Zo[ o]l.) The whidah bird. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whydah finch — Whidah bird Whid ah bird , (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several species of finchlike birds belonging to the genus {Vidua}, native of Asia and Africa. In the breeding season the male has very long, drooping tail feathers. Called also {vida finch},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whydah — /hwid euh, wid euh/, n. 1. any of several small African finches of the subfamily Viduinae, the males of which have elongated, drooping tail feathers during the breeding season. 2. any of several African weaverbirds of the genus Euplectes, the… …   Universalium

  • whydah — [ wɪdə] (also whyda) noun 1》 an African weaver bird, the male of which has a black back and a very long black tail used in display flight. [Genus Vidua: several species.] 2》 another term for widowbird. Origin C18 (orig. widow bird): alt. by assoc …   English new terms dictionary

  • whydah — n. (also whidah) any small African weaver bird of the genus Vidua, the male having mainly black plumage and tail feathers of great length. Etymology: orig. widow bird, altered f. assoc. with Whidah (now Ouidah) in Benin …   Useful english dictionary

  • whydah — noun Etymology: alteration of widow (bird) Date: 1783 any of various mostly brownish African passerine birds (genera Euplectes and Vidua) often kept as cage birds and distinguished in the male by black and white plumage and by long tail feathers… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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