purple martin
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of purple martin
An Americanism dating back to 1735–45
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.
Before he even parked, Prum was calling out the names of birds he glimpsed or heard through the car window: osprey, purple martin, red-winged blackbird.
From New York Times ● Jan. 9, 2019
The purple martin is a large, broad-winged swallow of sumptuous royal blue with a gurgling liquid song.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 27, 2013
I don't know how stupid a man can get, but when he can't tell a purple martin from a starling that's got to be getting close to the record.
From Time Magazine Archive
Our purple martin has been accused of catching the honey-bee, but I doubt his guilt.
From The Writings of John Burroughs — Volume 05: Pepacton by Burroughs, John
Not even the little house wren has adapted itself so quickly to civilised men's homes, as the swift and purple martin.
From Birds Every Child Should Know by Blanchan, Neltje
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
