kittiwake

[ kit-ee-weyk ]

noun

1. either of two small, pearl-gray gulls of the genus Rissa, the black-legged R. tridactyla of the North Atlantic and the red-legged and red-billed R. brevirostris, of the Bering Sea, both nesting on narrow cliff ledges and having a rudimentary hind toe.

kittiwake

/ ˈkɪtɪˌweɪk /

noun

1. either of two oceanic gulls of the genus Rissa, esp R. tridactyla, having a white plumage with pale grey black-tipped wings and a square-cut tail

Word History and Origins

Origin of kittiwake¹

First recorded in 1655–65; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of kittiwake¹

C17: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

The nest of the Kittiwake is situated on ledges of maritime cliffs round our coast, and at the Farne Islands.

From Project Gutenberg

This Kittiwake is very much like the former, excepting that the legs are bright red, the mantle is darker and the bill shorter.

From Project Gutenberg

The Kittiwake is sixteen inches in length, has a pearly gray mantle, black tips to the primaries, and remainder of plumage white.

From Project Gutenberg

The young of the Kittiwake, previous to its first moult, is sometimes called the Tarrock.

From Project Gutenberg

The Kittiwake Gull takes its name from the cry with which in the breeding season it assails any intruder on its domain.

From Project Gutenberg