purple grackle
- noun
- /ˈpɜrpl ˈɡrækl/
- US
:
grackle morado
- During our birdwatching trip, we observed several purple grackles foraging for food in the grass.
Examples
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While walking through the park, I spotted a purple grackle perched on a branch, its shiny feathers glistening in the sunlight.
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What's a purple grackle go like?
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The purple grackle is easily recognizable due to its iridescent black plumage that shimmers with hints of purple.
Synonyms
2
8.9
A large black bird with a long tail and shiny feathers
A black bird from eastern North America with shiny feathers
A large black bird with a long tail and shiny feathers
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a grackle that is purple/has purplish-black plumage' is directly and transparently derived from the adjective 'purple' modifying the noun 'grackle'. This simple adjective+noun composition follows common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Purple grackle comes from the bird's look and sound. The word purple points to its shiny purple-black feathers and grackle is an old word for a noisy black bird, so the name means 'a dark, glossy, noisy bird'.