The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Martin \Mar"tin\, n. [F. martin, from the proper name Martin.
Cf. Martlet.] (Zool.)
One of several species of swallows, usually having the tail
less deeply forked than the tail of the common swallows.
[Written also marten.]
[1913 Webster]
Note: The American purple martin, or bee martin (Progne
subis or Progne purpurea), and the European house
martin, or window martin (Hirundo urbica or
Chelidon urbica), are the best known species.
[1913 Webster]
Bank martin.
(a) The bank swallow. See under Bank.
(b) The fairy martin. See under Fairy.
Bee martin.
(a) The purple martin.
(b) The kingbird.
Sand martin, the bank swallow.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Swallow \Swal"low\, n. [OE. swalowe, AS. swalewe, swealwe; akin
to D. zwaluw, OHG. swalawa, G. schwalbe, Icel. & Sw. svala,
Dan. svale.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of passerine birds of
the family Hirundinidae, especially one of those species
in which the tail is deeply forked. They have long,
pointed wings, and are noted for the swiftness and
gracefulness of their flight.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The most common North American species are the barn
swallow (see under Barn), the cliff, or eaves,
swallow (see under Cliff), the white-bellied, or
tree, swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), and the bank
swallow (see under Bank). The common European swallow
(Chelidon rustica), and the window swallow, or martin
(Chelidon urbica), are familiar species.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of swifts which
resemble the true swallows in form and habits, as the
common American chimney swallow, or swift.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Naut.) The aperture in a block through which the rope
reeves. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.
[1913 Webster]
Swallow plover (Zool.), any one of several species of
fork-tailed ploverlike birds of the genus Glareola, as
Glareola orientalis of India; a pratincole.
Swallow shrike (Zool.), any one of several species of East
Indian and Asiatic birds of the family Artamiidae,
allied to the shrikes but similar to swallows in
appearance and habits. The ashy swallow shrike (Artamus
fuscus) is common in India.
Swallow warbler (Zool.), any one of numerous species of
East Indian and Australian singing birds of the genus
Dicaeum. They are allied to the honeysuckers.
[1913 Webster]