poor-will

[ poor-wil ]

noun

1. a goatsucker, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii, of western North America.

Word History and Origins

Origin of poor-will¹

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; imitative

Example Sentences

I hear a whip-poor-will away off somewhere in the distance, and it's too mournful a sound for my mood.

From Project Gutenberg

A whip-poor-will called, and its neighbor answered it like an echo.

From Project Gutenberg

I feel melancholy as a whip-poor-will and took up pen and paper to sigh melodiously to you.

From Project Gutenberg

Then a night hawk screamed, a whip-poor-will complained, a belated killdeer swept the sky, and the night wind sang a louder song.

From Project Gutenberg

A whip-poor-will wailed in the swamp and beside the blue-bordered pool a chat complained disconsolately.

From Project Gutenberg