The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Swan \Swan\ (sw[o^]n), n. [AS. swan; akin to D. zwaan, OHG.
swan, G. schwan, Icel. svanr, Sw. svan, Dan. svane; and
perhaps to E. sound something audible.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of large aquatic birds
belonging to Cygnus, Olor, and allied genera of the
subfamily Cygninae. They have a large and strong beak
and a long neck, and are noted for their graceful
movements when swimming. Most of the northern species are
white. In literature the swan was fabled to sing a
melodious song, especially at the time of its death.
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Note: The European white, or mute, swan (Cygnus gibbus),
which is most commonly domesticated, bends its neck in
an S-shaped curve. The whistling, or trumpeting, swans
of the genus Olor do not bend the neck in an S-shaped
curve, and are noted for their loud and sonorous cry,
due to complex convolutions of the windpipe. To this
genus belong the European whooper, or whistling swan
(Olor cygnus), the American whistling swan (Olor
Columbianus), and the trumpeter swan (Olor
buccinator). The Australian black swan (Chenopis
atrata) is dull black with white on the wings, and has
the bill carmine, crossed with a white band. It is a
very graceful species and is often domesticated. The
South American black-necked swan (Sthenelides
melancorypha) is a very beautiful and graceful
species, entirely white, except the head and neck,
which are dark velvety seal-brown. Its bill has a
double bright rose-colored knob.
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2. Fig.: An appellation for a sweet singer, or a poet noted
for grace and melody; as Shakespeare is called the swan of
Avon.
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3. (Astron.) The constellation Cygnus.
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Swan goose (Zool.), a bird of India (Cygnopsis cygnoides)
resembling both the swan and the goose.
Swan shot, a large size of shot used in fowling.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Whistling \Whis"tling\,
a. & n. from Whistle, v.
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Whistling buoy. (Naut.) See under Buoy.
Whistling coot (Zool.), the American black scoter.
Whistling Dick. (Zool.)
(a) An Australian shrike thrush (Colluricincla Selbii).
(b) The song thrush. [Prov. Eng.]
Whistling duck. (Zool.)
(a) The golden-eye.
(b) A tree duck.
Whistling eagle (Zool.), a small Australian eagle
(Haliastur sphenurus); -- called also whistling hawk,
and little swamp eagle.
Whistling plover. (Zool.)
(a) The golden plover.
(b) The black-bellied, or gray, plover.
Whistling snipe (Zool.), the American woodcock.
Whistling swan. (Zool.)
(a) The European whooper swan; -- called also wild swan,
and elk.
(b) An American swan (Olor columbianus). See under Swan.
Whistling teal (Zool.), a tree duck, as Dendrocygna
awsuree of India.
Whistling thrush. (Zool.)
(a) Any one of several species of singing birds of the genus
Myiophonus, native of Asia, Australia, and the East
Indies. They are generally black, glossed with blue, and
have a patch of bright blue on each shoulder. Their note
is a loud and clear whistle.
(b) The song thrush. [Prov. Eng.]
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