whip-poor-will

whip-poor-will
Caprimulgidae Caprimulgidae n. [L. capris goat + mulgere to milk.] a widely distributed natural family of nocturnally active birds including the {whip-poor-will} ({Caprimulgus vociferus}), the {chuck-will's-widow} ({Caprimulgus carolinensis}), and the {common nighthawk} ({Chordeiles minor}); -- called popularly the {goatsuckers} or {nightjars}. The nighthawks are sometimes active during the day.

Syn: goatsuckers, nightjars, family {Caprimulgidae}. [PJC]

The family . . . is alternately known as the nightjars (derived from the "churring" sounds of several species -- "jarring" the night air), or goatsuckers, a nonsense name that should be discontinued as it has its origin in the preposterous myth that the birds sucked the milk of nanny goats until they were dry. --Terence Michael Short (Wild Birds of the Americas)


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Whip-poor-will — n. (Zo[ o]l.) An American bird ({Antrostomus vociferus}) allied to the nighthawk and goatsucker; so called in imitation of the peculiar notes which it utters in the evening. [Written also {whippowil}.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whip-poor-will — «HWIHP uhr WIHL, HWIHP uhr wihl», noun. a North American bird whose call sounds somewhat like its name. It is active at night or twilight. ╂[American English; imitative] …   Useful english dictionary

  • Whip-poor-will — Taxobox name = Whip poor will image width = 240px image caption = Adult male status = LC status system = iucn3.1 regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves subclassis = Neornithes infraclassis = Neognathae unranked ordo = Cypselomorphae… …   Wikipedia

  • Whip-poor-will — Engoulevent bois pourri Engoulevent bois pourri …   Wikipédia en Français

  • whip-poor-will — Caprimulgus Caprimulgus n. the type genus of the {Caprimulgidae}, including the {whip poor will} ({Caprimulgus vociferus}) and the {chuck will s widow} ({Caprimulgus carolinensis}). Syn: genus {Caprimulgus}. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whip-poor-will — niūrusis lėlys statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Antrostomus vociferus; Caprimulgus vociferus angl. whip poor will vok. Schwarzkehl Nachtschwalbe, f rus. жалобный козодой, m pranc. engoulevent bois pourri, m ryšiai:… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • Mexican Whip-poor-will — Whip poor will Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) Scientific classification Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • whip-poor-will — noun Etymology: imitative Date: 1709 a nocturnal nightjar (Caprimulgus vociferus) of chiefly eastern North America with a loud repeated call suggestive of its name …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Poor-will — n. [So called in imitation of its note.] (Zo[ o]l.) A bird of the Western United States ({Phal[ae]noptilus Nutalli}) allied to the whip poor will. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whip — whip; whip·pa·ree; whip·per; whip·per·snap·per; whip·pet; whip·pi·ness; whip·poor·will; whip·py; whip·ster; whip·pe·ree; …   English syllables

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