cliff swallow

noun

1. any of several North American birds of the genus Hirundo, especially H. pyrrhonota, that live colonially and build bottle-shaped mud nests on cliffs and walls.

cliff swallow

noun

1. an American swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, that has a square-tipped tail and builds nests of mud on cliffs, walls, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of cliff swallow¹

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25

Example Sentences

Most of the monsoon broods of the Indian cliff-swallow emerge from the eggs in August.

From Project Gutenberg

The eggs of the barn swallow and cliff swallow are more or less speckled.

From Project Gutenberg

The cliff-swallow, strange emigrant, that eastward takes his way, has come and gone again in my time.

From Project Gutenberg

Much the same pattern of weight increase was noted by Stoner in the Cliff Swallow.

From Project Gutenberg

Temperature and growth studies of the Northern Cliff Swallow.

From Project Gutenberg