sea swallow
Americannoun
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any of several terns, especially Sterna hirundo.
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British Dialect. any of several small petrels, especially the storm petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus.
noun
Etymology
Origin of sea swallow
First recorded in 1590–1600
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.
Or would it rather evacuate and abandon them, letting the sea swallow the remains of their homes?
From Washington Post ● Sep. 2, 2022
Any moment the ice may crumble beneath our feet and the sea swallow up the entire party.
From The Romance of Polar Exploration Interesting Descriptions of Arctic and Antarctic Adventure from the Earliest Time to the Voyage of the ?Discovery? by Scott, G. Firth
"Like the wings of a snow white sea swallow Writing mating signs on the blue sky of Heaven Flashed his quick hands of entreaty, In the little love sign talk he taught her."
From The Fire Bird by Stratton-Porter, Gene
The Little Mary imitated all our evolutions, skimming over the waves like a sea swallow.
From Travels in the Steppes of the Caspian Sea, the Crimea, the Caucasus, &c. by Hell, Xavier Hommaire de
"You are handsome, but may the sea swallow you up before you come back!"
From Mare Nostrum (Our Sea) A Novel by Jordan, Charlotte Brewster
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.
