gallinule
Americannoun
noun
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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)
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the US name for moorhen
Etymology
Origin of gallinule
1770–80; < New Latin Gallinula a genus name, Late Latin gallīnula chicken, equivalent to Latin gallīn ( a ) hen + -ula -ule
Vocabulary lists containing gallinule
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Elaine, who visited the Everglades occasionally when she lived in Miami, knows a purple gallinule when she sees one.
From New York Times ● Jun. 21, 2023
Those who live in or near high-rises often find birds that flew into the buildings at night, and two birds — a peregrine falcon and a common gallinule — were among the most noteworthy donations.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 21, 2016
Rail and gallinule may be shot in New York and Washington throughout October and November.
From Time Magazine Archive
The Florida gallinule is in general pretty silent, I think; but he has a noisy season; then he is indeed noisy enough.
From A Florida Sketch-Book by Torrey, Bradford
First he rowed me up the "creek," under promise to show me alligators, moccasins, and no lack of birds, including the especially desired purple gallinule.
From A Florida Sketch-Book by Torrey, Bradford
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
