water rail

water rail
Gallinule Gal"li*nule, n. [L. gallinula chicken, dim. of gallina hen: cf. F. gallinule.] (Zo["o]l.) One of several wading birds, having long, webless toes, and a frontal shield, belonging to the family {Rallidae}. They are remarkable for running rapidly over marshes and on floating plants. The purple gallinule of America is {Ionornis Martinica}, that of the Old World is {Porphyrio porphyrio}. The common European gallinule ({Gallinula chloropus}) is also called {moor hen}, {water hen}, {water rail}, {moor coot}, {night bird}, and erroneously {dabchick}. Closely related to it is the Florida gallinule ({Gallinula galeata}). [1913 Webster]

Note: The purple gallinule of Southern Europe and Asia was formerly believed to be able to detect and report adultery, and for that reason, chiefly, it was commonly domesticated by the ancients. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Water rail — Wa ter rail (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of rails of the genus {Rallus}, as the common European species ({Rallus aquaticus}). See Illust. of {Rail}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Water Rail — Taxobox name = Water Rail status = LC | status system = IUCN3.1 status ref = [IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=48955|title=Rallus aquaticus|downloaded=11 May 2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is …   Wikipedia

  • water rail — noun 1. : any of numerous rails of the genus Rallus (especially R. aquaticus) 2. dialect England : moorhen 2 * * * an Old World rail, Rallus aquaticus, having olive brown plumage marked with black and a long, red bill. [1645 55] * * * water rail… …   Useful english dictionary

  • water rail — an Old World rail, Rallus aquaticus, having olive brown plumage marked with black and a long, red bill. [1645 55] * * * ▪ bird       (Rallus aquaticus), slender marsh bird of the family Rallidae (order Gruiformes), native to most of Europe and… …   Universalium

  • Water Rail — ilgasnapė vištelė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Rallus aquaticus angl. Water Rail vok. Wasserralle …   Paukščių anatomijos terminai

  • water rail — ilgasnapė vištelė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Rallus aquaticus angl. water rail vok. Wasserralle, f rus. водяной пастушок, m pranc. râle d eau, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – ilgasnapės vištelės …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • water rail — /ˈwɔtə reɪl / (say wawtuh rayl) noun 1. → Lewin s rail. 2. a common rail, Rallus aquaticus, inhabiting marshes and rivers of Eurasia, northern Africa, Arabia and Japan …  

  • water rail — noun a secretive rail (bird) inhabiting reed beds, with a squealing call. [Rallus aquaticus.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • water rail — noun a small wetland bird (Rallus aquaticus) of the family Rallidae that breeds in marshes and reedbeds across Europe and Asia …   Wiktionary

  • water-rail — …   Useful english dictionary

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