1.
[syn: bank martin, bank swallow, sand martin, Riparia riparia]
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]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
bank martin
n 1: swallow of the northern hemisphere that nests in tunnels
dug in clay or sand banks [syn: bank martin, bank
swallow, sand martin, Riparia riparia]