whippoorwilln.
/ˈwɪpəwɪl/, U.S. /ˈ(h)wɪpərˌwɪl/ Popular name in U.S. and Canada for a species of Goatsucker, Antrostomus ( Caprimulgus) vociferus.
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the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Caprimulgiformes (nightjars, etc.) > [noun] > family Caprimulgidae > member of genus Caprimulgus > caprimulgus vociferus (whip-poor-will)
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1709 J. Lawson New Voy. Carolina 146 Whippoo-Will, so nam'd, because it makes those Words exactly.
1747 G. Edwards Nat. Hist. Birds II. 63 The Whip-Poor-Will, or lesser Goat-Sucker... It is called in Virginia, Whip-Poor-Will, from its Cry.
1778 J. Carver Trav. N.-Amer. xviii. 468 The Whipperwill, or as it is termed by the Indians, the Muckawiss..acquires its name by the noise it makes.
1809 W. Irving Hist. N.Y. II. vi. iii. 97 The melancholy plaint of the Whip-poor-will, who, perched on some lone tree, wearied the ear of night with his incessant moanings.
1822 J. Woods Two Years' Resid. Eng. Prairie 197 Wipperwill, or whip-poor-will, or wippervill,—a brown bird..is generally heard of an evening in spring and summer.
1884 ‘M. Twain’ Adventures Huckleberry Finn i. 20 I heard..a whippowill and a dog crying about somebody that was going to die.
1920 W. D. Howells Vacation of Kelwyns 42 The whippoor~wills..whirred through the cool, damp air.
1938 J. M. Gordon Canad. Mosaic (1939) ix. 218 Dreamily lying with prairie for pillow Clear I hear calling the lone whip-poor-will.
1960 R. T. Peterson Field Guide Birds Texas 134 Whip-poor-will... Best known by its vigorous cry repeated in endless succession at night.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1923; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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