Spoonbill

4 definitions found

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

  Shoveler \Shov"el*er\, n. [Also shoveller.]
     1. One who, or that which, shovels.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) A river duck ({Spatula clypeata}), native of
        Europe and America. It has a large bill, broadest towards


        the tip. The male is handsomely variegated with green,
        blue, brown, black, and white on the body; the head and
        neck are dark green. Called also {broadbill}, {spoonbill},
        {shovelbill}, and {maiden duck}. The Australian shoveler,
        or shovel-nosed duck ({Spatula rhynchotis}), is a similar
        species.
        [1913 Webster]

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

  Spoonbill \Spoon"bill`\ (-b[i^]l`), n. (Zool.)
        (a) Any one of several species of wading birds of the
            genera {Ajaja} and {Platalea}, and allied genera, in
            which the long bill is broadly expanded and flattened
            at the tip.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The roseate spoonbill of America ({Ajaja ajaja}), and
           the European spoonbill ({Platalea leucorodia}) are the
           best known. The royal spoonbill ({Platalea regia}) of
           Australia is white, with the skin in front of the eyes
           naked and black. The male in the breeding season has a
           fine crest.
           [1913 Webster]
        (b) The shoveler. See {Shoveler}, 2.
        (c) The ruddy duck. See under {Ruddy}.
        (d) The paddlefish.
            [1913 Webster]

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

  Ruddy \Rud"dy\, a. [Compar. {Ruddier}; superl. {Ruddiest}.] [AS.
     rudig. See {Rud}, n.]
     1. Of a red color; red, or reddish; as, a ruddy sky; a ruddy
        flame. --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              They were more ruddy in body than rubies. --Lam. iv.
                                                    7.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Of a lively flesh color, or the color of the human skin in
        high health; as, ruddy cheeks or lips. --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Ruddy duck} (Zool.), an American duck ({Erismatura rubida})
        having a broad bill and a wedge-shaped tail composed of
        stiff, sharp feathers. The adult male is rich brownish red
        on the back, sides, and neck, black on the top of the
        head, nape, wings, and tail, and white on the cheeks. The
        female and young male are dull brown mixed with blackish
        on the back; grayish below. Called also {dunbird},
        {dundiver}, {ruddy diver}, {stifftail}, {spinetail},
        {hardhead}, {sleepy duck}, {fool duck}, {spoonbill}, etc.
        
  
     {Ruddy plover} (Zool.) the sanderling.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  spoonbill
       n : wading birds having a long flat bill with a tip like a spoon