Whippoorwill

/ˈʍɪp.ɚˌwɪl/ noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A nocturnal insectivorous bird of North America (Antrostomus vociferus, syn. Caprimulgus vociferus), a type of nightjar, named after its characteristic call.

    "“Seems like I heard a whippoorwill callinʼ, and I thought to myself, Go on away from here, weʼll whip ole Will when we find him.”"

  2. 2
    American nocturnal goatsucker with grey-and-white plumage wordnet
  3. 3
    The distinctive call of the above bird.

    "The bird sang his whippoorwills all night."

Synonyms

All synonyms
callcaprimulgus vociferusgoatsuckermagpienightjarvocalization

Example

More examples

"“Seems like I heard a whippoorwill callinʼ, and I thought to myself, Go on away from here, weʼll whip ole Will when we find him.”"

Etymology

Imitative of its note.

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