gallinule

[ gal-uh-nool, -nyool ]

noun
  1. any aquatic bird of the family Rallidae, having elongated, webless toes.

Origin of gallinule

1
1770–80; <New Latin Gallinula a genus name, Late Latin gallīnula chicken, equivalent to Latin gallīn(a) hen + -ula-ule

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How to use gallinule in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gallinule

gallinule

/ (ˈɡælɪˌnjuːl) /


noun
  1. any of various aquatic birds of the genera Porphyrio and Porphyrula, typically having a dark plumage, red bill, and a red shield above the bill: family Rallidae (rails)

  2. common gallinule the US name for moorhen (def. 1)

Origin of gallinule

1
C18: from New Latin Gallīnula genus name, from Late Latin: pullet, chicken, from Latin gallīna hen

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