nighthawk
Americannoun
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any of several longwinged, American goatsuckers of the genus Chordeiles, related to the whippoorwill, especially C. minor, having variegated black, white, and buff plumage.
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the European goatsucker or nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus.
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Informal. a person who is habitually up or moving about late at night; night owl.
noun
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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
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informal another name for night owl
Etymology
Origin of nighthawk
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.
Back then, Ahmed pipped Harry Brook to win a six-hitting contest among the Test squad in Pakistan and was England's first nighthawk during his debut in Karachi.
From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026
Even a clutch of common nighthawk eggs, camouflaged in the sand, catches your eye.
From New York Times ● Jun. 27, 2017
Nightjars, a kind of nighthawk also known as goatsuckers, sat on the roads that had been baked by the day’s sun to stay warm in the chilly night.
From Scientific American ● Feb. 22, 2013
Photograph: Katherine Rose for the Observer Contrary to form, nighthawk DJ Mary Anne Hobbs won't be rolling into her new job fresh from a club, bass still ringing in her ears.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 30, 2012
Owls were flying this night, shrieking to start their prey, and a nighthawk made soft rhythmic whoops in the distance.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
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