rough-winged swallow
Americannoun
-
either of two New World swallows of the genus Stelgidopteryx, having outer primary feathers with small barblike hooks on the margins.
-
any of several African swallows of the genus Psalidoprocne, having similar feathers.
Etymology
Origin of rough-winged swallow
An Americanism dating back to 1830–40
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.
A northern rough-winged swallow alighted on a branch and Mr. Cooper, 57, trained his lenses on it for a while.
From New York Times
Four birds have been elusive: the hairy woodpecker, bank swallow, cliff swallow and northern rough-winged swallow.
From Washington Times
Group members responded to van den Broek’s question by listing the names of the birds they had spotted - a chickadee, a kingfisher, a rough-winged swallow.
From Washington Times
Only their cousin, the rough-winged swallow, whose breast is brownish gray, is so plainly dressed.
From Project Gutenberg
The rare rough-winged swallow deigns to linger and nest in the Park as well as do his more common brethren.
From Project Gutenberg
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.
