Nightjar

3 definitions found

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

  Goatsucker \Goat"suck`er\, n. (Zool.)
     One of several species of insectivorous birds, belonging to
     {Caprimulgus} and allied genera, esp. the European species
     ({Caprimulgus Europ[ae]us}); -- so called from the mistaken
     notion that it sucks goats. The European species is also
     {goat-milker}, {goat owl}, {goat chaffer}, {fern owl}, {night


     hawk}, {nightjar}, {night churr}, {churr-owl}, {gnat hawk},
     and {dorhawk}.
     [1913 Webster]

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

  Nightjar \Night"jar`\, n.
     A goatsucker, esp. the European species. See Illust. of
     {Goatsucker}.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  nightjar
       n : mainly crepuscular or nocturnal nonpasserine birds with
           mottled grayish-brown plumage and large eyes; feed on
           insects [syn: {goatsucker}, {caprimulgid}]