Scissorbill

1 definition found

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

  Skimmer \Skim"mer\, n.
     1. One who, or that which, skims; esp., a utensil with which
        liquids are skimmed.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) Any species of longwinged marine birds of the


        genus {Rhynchops}, allied to the terns, but having the
        lower mandible compressed and much longer than the upper
        one. These birds fly rapidly along the surface of the
        water, with the lower mandible immersed, thus skimming out
        small fishes. The American species ({Rhynchops nigra}) is
        common on the southern coasts of the United States. Called
        also {scissorbill}, and {shearbill}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Zool.) Any one of several large bivalve shells, sometimes
        used for skimming milk, as the sea clams, and large
        scallops.
        [1913 Webster]