scissorbill

scissorbill
Skimmer Skim"mer, n. 1. One who, or that which, skims; esp., a utensil with which liquids are skimmed. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]l.) Any species of longwinged marine birds of the genus {Rhynchops}, allied to the terns, but having the lower mandible compressed and much longer than the upper one. These birds fly rapidly along the surface of the water, with the lower mandible immersed, thus skimming out small fishes. The American species ({R. nigra}) is common on the southern coasts of the United States. Called also {scissorbill}, and {shearbill}. [1913 Webster]

3. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several large bivalve shells, sometimes used for skimming milk, as the sea clams, and large scallops. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • scissorbill — noun a) The black skimmer (Rynchops niger) bird native to the Atlantic states, USA. b) Someone considered contemptible or foolish …   Wiktionary

  • scissorbill — noun 1》 another term for skimmer (in sense 2). 2》 N. Amer. informal an incompetent or objectionable person …   English new terms dictionary

  • scissorbill — ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun Etymology: translation of French bec en ciseaux 1. : skimmer 3 2. chiefly West : an inferior or stupid person: as a. : a worker indifferent to the interests of the laboring class (as one unwilling to join a union) …   Useful english dictionary

  • black scissorbill — black scissorbill, = black skimmer. (Cf. ↑black skimmer) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Wobbly lingo — is a collection of technical language, jargon, and historic slang used by the Industrial Workers of the World, known as the Wobblies, for more than a century.Origin and usageWords and phrases in Wobbly lingo may have different meanings in… …   Wikipedia

  • R nigra — Skimmer Skim mer, n. 1. One who, or that which, skims; esp., a utensil with which liquids are skimmed. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) Any species of longwinged marine birds of the genus {Rhynchops}, allied to the terns, but having the lower… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shearbill — Skimmer Skim mer, n. 1. One who, or that which, skims; esp., a utensil with which liquids are skimmed. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) Any species of longwinged marine birds of the genus {Rhynchops}, allied to the terns, but having the lower… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Skimmer — Skim mer, n. 1. One who, or that which, skims; esp., a utensil with which liquids are skimmed. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) Any species of longwinged marine birds of the genus {Rhynchops}, allied to the terns, but having the lower mandible… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • scissorsbill — ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun Etymology: by alteration : scissorbill 2 …   Useful english dictionary

  • skim|mer — «SKIHM uhr», noun. 1. a person or thing that skims. 2. a shallow ladle, full of holes, with a long handle. It is used in skimming liquids. 3. a kind of sea bird that skims the surface of the water to get food; scissorbill. The skimmers comprise a …   Useful english dictionary

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