nighthawk
[nahyt-hawk]
- any of several longwinged, American goatsuckers of the genus Chordeiles, related to the whippoorwill, especially C. minor, having variegated black, white, and buff plumage.
- the European goatsucker or nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus.
- Informal. a person who is habitually up or moving about late at night; night owl.
Show More
Origin of nighthawk
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for nighthawk
Historical Examples
But there was nothing he could do now except to agree to Mr. Nighthawk's proposal.
The Tale of Kiddie KatydidArthur Scott Bailey
Mr. Nighthawk whined, as he looked hungrily at Kiddie Katydid.
The Tale of Kiddie KatydidArthur Scott Bailey
"I hadn't intended to do any leaping to-night," he told Mr. Nighthawk.
The Tale of Kiddie KatydidArthur Scott Bailey
And it drove every thought except one out of Mr. Nighthawk's head.
The Tale of Kiddie KatydidArthur Scott Bailey
But it was Mr. Nighthawk, making that odd, booming sound of his.
The Tale of Chirpy CricketArthur Scott Bailey
nighthawk
- Also called: bullbat, mosquito hawk any American nightjar of the genus Chordeiles and related genera, having a dark plumage and, in the male, white patches on the wings and tail
- informal another name for night owl
Show More
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012