purple gallinule

American  

noun

1. a purple, blue, green, and white gallinule, Porphyrula martinica, inhabiting warmer areas of the New World, having a bright red, yellow, and blue bill, and lemon-yellow legs and feet.

2. any of several large, Old World gallinules of the genus Porphyrio.

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purple gallinule British  

noun

1. a long-toed purple aquatic bird, Porphyrio porphyrio (or Porphyrula martinica ), of the southern US and Europe, with red legs and red bill: family Rallidae (rails, etc)

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Etymology

Origin of purple gallinule

An Americanism dating back to 1805–15

Example Sentences

Elaine, who visited the Everglades occasionally when she lived in Miami, knows a purple gallinule when she sees one.

From New York Times • Jun. 21, 2023

In one place he had the good-luck to raise a flock of water birds, which he took for purple gallinule and spur-wing plover, although they were unlike any he had ever seen.

From The Ne'er-Do-Well by Beach, Rex Ellingwood

First he rowed me up the "creek," under promise to show me alligators, moccasins, and no lack of birds, including the especially desired purple gallinule.

From A Florida Sketch-Book by Torrey, Bradford

Pelicans, with their pouched throats and scythe-like bills, stood in melancholy attitudes, and beside them were the white and scarlet ibis, and the purple gallinule.

From The Boy Hunters by Unknown