purple martin

American  

noun

1. a large American swallow, Progne subis, the male of which is blue-black.

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Etymology

Origin of purple martin

An Americanism dating back to 1735–45

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

purple martin

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

Then came other tyrant-birds and the loved swallows—the house- swallow, which resembles the English house-martin, the large purple martin, the Golodrina domestica, and the brown tree-martin.

From Far Away and Long Ago by W. H. (William Henry) Hudson

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 John Burroughs

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