sea swallow
- noun
- /siː ˈswɒloʊ/
:
golondrina de mar
- Fishermen often refer to the common tern as the sea swallow because of its flight pattern.
Examples
-
The sea swallow was seen diving gracefully over the waves.
-
Many sea swallows migrate during the winter months.
-
During migration, thousands of sea swallows can be spotted along the coast.
-
The sea swallow is often seen near the coast.
-
During migration, thousands of sea swallows can be spotted along the coast.
-
Fishermen often refer to the common tern as the sea swallow because of its flight pattern.
-
The sea swallow was seen diving gracefully over the waves.
Synonyms
A small sea bird with white, black, and grey feathers that nests in Europe and North America
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound combines 'sea' (saltwater) with 'swallow' (a small migratory bird), so a B1 learner who knows both words would reasonably infer it denotes a bird associated with the sea (a seabird). Although ornithologically it refers to a tern rather than a true swallow, the referent is compositionally predictable from the constituents and follows a common noun+noun naming pattern.
Etymology
Sea swallow comes from sailors and fishermen who saw this bird flying and diving over the sea like a swallow, so they put together sea and swallow as a name. That's why the name refers to a 'common tern' and helps you picture a small bird that looks like a swallow and lives by the sea.
