rainbird

American  

[reyn-burd] / ˈreɪnˌbɜrd /

noun

1. any of several birds, especially the black-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus ) and the yellow-billed cuckoo (C. americanus ), that are said to call frequently before a rainstorm.

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rainbird British  

/ ˈreɪnˌbɜːd /

noun

1. any of various birds, such as (in Britain) the green woodpecker, whose cry is supposed to portend rain

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Etymology

Origin of rainbird

First recorded in 1910–15; rain + bird

Example Sentences

In the original "Firestarter," George C. Scott's character John Rainbird wins the trust of Drew Barrymore's fire prodigy Charlie in order to betray that trust.

From Salon

Probably the best example of the powerlessness that comes along with that is her relationship with John Rainbird: George C. Scott playing a Native man who's a Shop assassin disguised as an orderly who befriends Charlie.

From Salon

Karin Rainbird, a pagan prison chaplain, recently helped start a seven-strong Wiccan coven in Pontypridd, south Wales.

From BBC

Around the time that Pulling was coming together, she met Jeremy Rainbird, who worked in advertising.

From The Guardian

Both professionally and personally, 2019 was a tough year: Catastrophe ended, and so did her marriage to Rainbird.

From The Guardian