A popular name of the Wagtail, Motacilla lugubris. Cf. wash-dish, n. 1, dishwasher, n. 3, and washerwoman, n. 2.

The Water Wagtail.

The wagtail.

A small bird often found near water and having a bobbing motion, whose arrival was taken as an indication of spring, variously identified as a wader…

A popular name of the pied or water wagtail (Motacilla alba); also of the Grinder or Restless Flycatcher of Australia (Seisura inquieta).

A wagtail of the genus Motacilla, often found in the vicinity of water. Frequently with distinguishing word.

= dishwasher, n. 3 (for which it is apparently only an error). Obsolete.

(a) a bird that feeds mainly on seeds (now rare); †(b) British regional a bird that forages in newly ploughed land in the spring, esp. a wagtail (obs…

any of several black and white wagtails of the genus Motacilla; spec. a white wagtail of the subspecies M. alba yarrelli, found in the British…

(a) (chiefly Scottish) the pied wagtail, Motacilla alba yarrellii; (b) (Australian) an Australasian fantail, Rhipidura leucophrys, which has black…

= washer, n.1 4a.

dialect. = dishwasher, n. 3

the pied wagtail, Motacilla alba yarrelli.

Irish English. The pied wagtail, Motacilla alba. Cf. devil's bird, n. 3.

Chiefly Irish English. The pied wagtail, Motacilla alba. Cf. deviling, n. 3b. Now rare.

English regional (Cornwall). The pied wagtail, Motacilla alba yarrellii. Obsolete.

British regional. Any of various warblers (family Sylviidae). Also: the pied wagtail, Motacilla alba. Also peggy dishwasher, peggy whitethroat.