Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun nightjar (bird)

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Imitative of its note.

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Examples

  • The goatsuckers are a group of birds whose members include the poorwill whip or not, the nighthawk, and yes, the pauraque.

    languagehat.com: ORNITHONOMY. 2005

  • Their weird cries are reflected in the common names for many of the species, e.g., whippoorwill, chuck-will's-widow, poorwill, poor-me-one, potoo, and pauraque.

    languagehat.com: ORNITHONOMY. 2005

  • An explanation that does nothing for most folks around here, unless they used to live back East and have an idea what a poorwill is.

    grouse Diary Entry grouse 2003

  • On the second night there was a scare when a poorwill swooped over the restless herd, uttering its mournful cry.

    Centennial Michener, James 1974

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