1.
[syn: wood swallow, swallow shrike]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Shrike \Shrike\, n. [Akin to Icel. skr[imac]kja a shrieker, the
shrike, and E. shriek; cf. AS. scr[imac]c a thrush. See
Shriek, v. i.] (Zool.)
Any one of numerous species of oscinine birds of the family
Laniidae, having a strong hooked bill, toothed at the tip.
Most shrikes are insectivorous, but the common European gray
shrike (Lanius excubitor), the great northern shrike
(Lanius borealis), and several others, kill mice, small
birds, etc., and often impale them on thorns, and are, on
that account called also butcher birds. See under
Butcher.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The ant shrikes, or bush shrikes, are clamatorial birds
of the family Formicaridae. The cuckoo shrikes of the
East Indies and Australia are Oscines of the family
Campephagidae. The drongo shrikes of the same regions
belong to the related family Dicruridae. See
Drongo.
[1913 Webster]
Crow shrike. See under Crow.
Shrike thrush.
(a) Any one of several species of Asiatic timaline birds of
the genera Thamnocataphus, Gampsorhynchus, and
allies.
(b) Any one of several species of shrikelike Australian
singing birds of the genus Colluricincla.
Shrike tit.
(a) Any one of several Australian birds of the genus
Falcunculus, having a strong toothed bill and sharp
claws. They creep over the bark of trees, like titmice,
in search of insects.
(b) Any one of several species of small Asiatic birds
belonging to Allotrius, Pteruthius, Cutia,
Leioptila, and allied genera, related to the true tits.
Called also hill tit.
Swallow shrike. See under 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]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
swallow shrike
n 1: Australasian and Asiatic bird related to the shrikes and
resembling a swallow [syn: wood swallow, swallow
shrike]