- whippoorwill
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a nocturnal insectivorous bird of North America, Caprimulgus vociferus, a type of nightjar, named after its characteristic call.
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whippoorwill
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whippoorwill — [hwip′ər wil΄, wip′ər wil΄] n. pl. whippoorwills or whippoorwill [echoic of its cry] a dark, insect eating, nocturnal nightjar (Caprimulgus vociferus) of E North America … English World dictionary
whippoorwill — 1709, imitative of its cry … Etymology dictionary
whippoorwill — ► NOUN ▪ a North and Central American nightjar with a distinctive call. ORIGIN imitative of its call … English terms dictionary
whippoorwill — /hwip euhr wil , wip ; hwip euhr wil , wip /, n. a nocturnal North American nightjar, Caprimulgus vociferus, having a variegated plumage of gray, black, white, and tawny. [1700 10, Amer.; imit.] * * * Species (Caprimulgus vociferus) of nocturnal… … Universalium
whippoorwill — [[t]wɪ̱pʊə(r)wɪl[/t]] whippoorwills N COUNT A whippoorwill is a North American bird that is active at night and has a call that sounds like whip poor will … English dictionary
whippoorwill's-shoe — ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ noun (plural whippoorwill s shoes) 1. : an American plant of the genus Cypripedium 2. also whippoorwill s boot ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷plural … Useful english dictionary
whippoorwill's-boot — noun see whippoorwill s shoe 2 … Useful english dictionary
whippoorwill — North American bird, so named because of its call … Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors
whippoorwill — n. songbird that is native to North America and is known for its dark spotted plumage and unique song … English contemporary dictionary
whippoorwill — [ wɪpəwɪl] noun a North and Central American nightjar with a distinctive call. [Caprimulgus vociferus.] Origin C18: imitative of its call … English new terms dictionary
