chuck-will's-widow

chuck-will's-widow
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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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Chuck-will's-widow — Adult male (upper right) and female (lower left) Conservation status …   Wikipedia

  • Chuck-Will's-widow — Chuck Will s wid ow, n. (Zool.) A large whippoorwill like bird (a species of goatsucker) ({Caprimulgus carolinensis}, formerly {Antrostomus Carolinensis}), of the southern United States; so called from its note. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chuck-will's-widow — ☆ chuck will s widow [chuk′wilz′wid′ō ] n. [echoic of its cry] a large nightjar (Caprimulgus carolinensis) of the S U.S., often mistaken for the slightly smaller whippoorwill …   English World dictionary

  • chuck-will's-widow — 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

  • chuck-will's-widow — /chuk wilz wid oh/, n. a goatsucker, Caprimulgus carolinensis, of the southern U.S., resembling the whippoorwill but larger. [1785 95; fanciful representation of its incessant call] * * * ▪ bird       (species Caprimulgus carolinensis), nocturnal …   Universalium

  • Chuck-will`s-widow — karolininis lėlys statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Antrostomus carolinensis; Caprimulgus carolinensis angl. Chuck will s widow vok. Carolinanachtschwalbe, f rus. каролинский козодой, m pranc. engoulevent de Caroline, m… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • chuck-will's-widow — chuck′ will s wid′ow [[t]ˈtʃʌk wɪlz[/t]] n. orn a large nightjar, Caprimulgus carolinensis, of the southern U.S • Etymology: 1785–95; repr. the bird s call …   From formal English to slang

  • chuck-will's-widow — noun Etymology: imitative Date: 1791 a nightjar (Caprimulgus carolinensis) of the southeastern United States …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • chuck-will's-widow — noun large whippoorwill like bird of the southern United States • Syn: ↑Caprimulgus carolinensis • Hypernyms: ↑goatsucker, ↑nightjar, ↑caprimulgid • Member Holonyms: ↑Caprimulgus, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Chuck Versus the Gobbler — Chuck episode Volkoff extracts the Hydra database. Ep …   Wikipedia

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