| 释义 |
ˈdevil-bird
A name popularly given to various birds, from their appearance, flight, cry, etc.; especially a. A local English name of the Swift; = devil 7 b.
1885Swainson Prov. Names Brit. Birds 95 It is called..Devil bird (West Riding).
b. The Brown Owl of Ceylon (Syrnium Indrani).
1849C. Pridham Ceylon 737 (Y.) Devil's Bird..The wild and wailing cry of this bird is considered a sure presage of death and misfortune, unless [etc.]. 1860in Tennent Ceylon I. 167 Note, The brown owl, which, from its hideous yell, has acquired the name of the ‘Devil-Bird’. 1876Ceylon II. 145 The ‘oolanna’, or devil bird of the Sinhalese, whose horrid shriek at night terrifies the natives..some think it is not an owl, but a black night-raven.
c. A name of the East Indian drongo-shrikes, family Dicruridæ. |