chuck-will's-widow

1 9.9

A large bird that is active at night in the southern United States with a loud repeated call

noun
/ˈtʃʌkˌwɪlzˈwɪdoʊ/

: chuck-will's-widow

Bullfrogs bewonked, and chuck-will's-widows called among dripping birches.

Examples

In the southern United States, the chuck-will's-widow often sings its haunting song at dusk.
Bullfrogs bewonked, and chuck-will's-widows called among dripping birches.

Fiction book (1996)
As night fell, I heard the distinctive call of a chuck-will's-widow echoing through the dark woods.
During our camping trip, we were lucky enough to spot a chuck-will's-widow perched quietly on a branch.

Synonyms

Caprimulgus carolinensis

vschuck-will's-widow

Specialized

9.9

A large night bird from the southern United States that makes a deep call

is the common English name rather than the Latin scientific form

Surface Forms

chuck-will's-widow singular

chuck-will's-widows plural

Morphology

chuck-will's-widow = chuck + Will + widow (opaque) = chuck + will + widow

Although built from recognizable words, the name is an imitative conventional compound for a bird and its meaning is not derivable by learners from the parts.

Etymology

Chuck-will's-widow comes from people copying the bird's night song: listeners long ago heard its repeating sound as chuck, will's, and widow, so they named the bird after that noise. That's why the name points to a large night bird known for its repeating 'call'.