scissortail

[ siz-er-teyl ]

/ ˈsɪz ərˌteɪl /

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noun

Also called scis·sor·tailed fly·catcher

[siz-er-teyld]. /ˈsɪz ərˌteɪld/. a flycatcher, Muscivora forficatus, of the southern U.S., Mexico, and Central America, having a long, deeply forked tail.

any of various other birds having a long, forked tail.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of scissortail

First recorded in 1830–40; scissor(s) + tail¹

Words nearby scissortail

scissors, scissors chair, scissors jack, scissors kick, scissors truss, scissortail, scissure, sci-tech, Scituate, sciurine, sciuroid