| 释义 |
† kirmew Obs.
[a. Ger. kirrmeve, f. kirren to coo, chirp, cry with a harsh sound + meve gull, mew.]
The common Tern.
It is doubtful whether the word has any standing in English except as occurring in quot. 1694 (transl. from German), which is also the source cited by Pennant, from whom subsequent writers get the name. Montagu (Ornith. Dict. 1802–33) gives also kirman, prob. an error.
1694Acc. Sev. Late Voy. ii. (1711) 82, I have heard the Kirmew and Kutyegehf cry. Ibid. 92 The Kirmew hath a thin sharp-pointed bill as red as blood... It is commonly called Kirmew from its Cry. 1766Pennant Zool. (1768) II. 428. |