[syn: pewee, peewee, peewit, pewit, wood pewee, Contopus virens]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Pewit \Pe"wit\, n. [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. OD. piewit,
D. kievit, G. kibitz.] (Zool.)
(a) The lapwing.
(b) The European black-headed, or laughing, gull (Xema
ridibundus). See under Laughing.
(c) The pewee. [Written also peevit, peewit, pewet.]
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Pewee \Pe"wee\, n. [So called from its note.]
1. (Zool.) A common American tyrant flycatcher (Sayornis
ph[oe]be, or Sayornis fuscus). Called also pewit, and
ph[oe]be.
[1913 Webster]
2. The woodcock. [Local, U.S.]
[1913 Webster]
Wood pewee (Zool.), a bird (Contopus virens) similar to
the pewee (See Pewee, 1), but of smaller size.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Laughing \Laugh"ing\, a. & n.
from Laugh, v. i.
[1913 Webster]
Laughing falcon (Zool.), a South American hawk
(Herpetotheres cachinnans); -- so called from its notes,
which resemble a shrill laugh.
Laughing gas (Chem.), nitrous oxide, also called
hyponitrous oxide, or protoxide of nitrogen; -- so called
from the exhilaration and laughing which it sometimes
produces when inhaled. It has been much used as an
anaesthetic agent, though now its use is primarily in
dentistry
Laughing goose (Zool.), the European white-fronted goose.
Laughing gull. (Zool.)
(a) A common European gull (Xema ridibundus); -- called
also pewit, black cap, red-legged gull, and sea
crow.
(b) An American gull (Larus atricilla). In summer the head
is nearly black, the back slate color, and the five outer
primaries black.
Laughing hyena (Zool.), the spotted hyena. See Hyena.
Laughing jackass (Zool.), the great brown kingfisher
(Dacelo gigas), of Australia; -- called also giant
kingfisher, and gogobera.
Laughing owl (Zool.), a peculiar owl (Sceloglaux
albifacies) of New Zealand, said to be on the verge of
extinction. The name alludes to its notes.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
pewit
n 1: small black-headed European gull [syn: laughing gull,
blackcap, pewit, pewit gull, Larus ridibundus]
2: large crested Old World plover having wattles and spurs [syn:
lapwing, green plover, peewit, pewit]
3: small olive-colored woodland flycatchers of eastern North
America [syn: pewee, peewee, peewit, pewit, wood
pewee, Contopus virens]