Harle

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Harle \Harle\ (h[aum]rl), n. (Zool.)
     The red-breasted merganser.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  Merganser \Mer*gan"ser\, n. [Sp. merg['a]nsar, fr. mergo a diver
     (L. mergus, fr. mergere to dip, dive) + ['a]nsar goose, L.
     anser.] (Zool.)
     Any bird of the genus {Mergus} ({Merganser}), and allied
     genera of the subfamily Merginae. They are allied to the
     ducks, but have a sharply serrated bill, eat fish, and dive
     for food. Also called {fish duck}.
     [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     Note: The red-breasted merganser ({Merganser serrator})
           inhabits both hemispheres. It is called also {sawbill},
           {harle}, and {sheldrake}. The American merganser
           ({Merganser Americanus}.) and the hooded merganser
           ({Lophodytes cucullatus}) are well-known species.
  
     {White merganser}, the smew or white nun.
        [1913 Webster]