goatsucker

American  

[goht-suhk-er] / ˈgoʊtˌsʌk ər /

noun

1. nightjar.

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goatsucker British  

/ ˈɡəʊtˌsʌkə /

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): nightjar.  any nocturnal bird of the family Caprimulgidae, esp Caprimulgus europaeus ( European nightjar ): order Caprimulgiformes.

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Etymology

Origin of goatsucker

1605–15; so called because formerly believed to suck the milk of goats; translation of Latin caprimulgus, itself translation of Greek aigothḗlas

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

goatsucker

The birds have a number of nicknames, with the most unusual being 'the goatsucker'.

From BBC ● Mar. 16, 2026

The harmless, unoffending goatsucker, from the time of Aristotle down to the present day, has been in disgrace with man. 

From Wanderings in South America by Charles Waterton

Then a ghostly goatsucker called eerily, "Who-are-you?" and the next sound for me was the summons to early coffee.

From Jungle Peace by William Beebe

The fern-owl, or goatsucker, is one of the most harmless of birds—a sort of evening swallow—living on moths, chafers, and similar night-flying insects.

From The Open Air by Richard Jefferies

First referring it to the genus Caprimulgus, its original describer soon saw that it was no true goatsucker.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 6 "Groups, Theory of" to "Gwyniad" by Various