dust-bath

British  

noun

1. the action of a bird of driving dust into its feathers, which may dislodge parasites

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Example Sentences

The nests should be in rows around the room, the feeding and water-troughs in the centre, with the dust-bath at one end.

From Natural and Artificial Duck Culture by Rankin, James

And when the incredulous shikari looked through the field-glasses he marvelled at the vision of the white man—the herdsman was under the tree as happy as a hen in a dust-bath.

From The Story of Baden-Powell 'The Wolf That Never Sleeps' by Begbie, Harold

I dwell with a strangely aching heart In that vanished abode there far apart On that disused and forgotten road That has no dust-bath now for the toad.

From A Boy's Will by Frost, Robert

When her brood begins to lag and pine, the wild mother knows, and leading them to some old ant-hill, she gives them a sousing dust-bath.

From Children's Literature A Textbook of Sources for Teachers and Teacher-Training Classes by Clippinger, Erle Elsworth

Lady farm-help, being shown her new duties, notices fowls having dust-bath.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 153, October 3, 1917 by Various