In early and biblical use: a bird of uncertain identity, associated with the wilderness (see etymological note). In later use allusively. Now archaic…

Applied (in Latin form) to fabulous creatures, beasts or birds: see quots. Obsolete.

a Stymphalian bird.

A gigantic mythical bird of prey, legendary in the Middle East. Cf. simurgh, n.

A mythical bird, the description of which is founded on erroneous accounts of the bird of paradise.

Any of various fabled or mythical birds associated with fire.

Originally poetic. Any of various real or mythical birds sacred to, or otherwise associated with, the sun; (also) the sun regarded or imagined as a…

One of the birds (called elsewhere ‘wild swans’) which drew Domingo Gonsales to the moon in the romance by Bishop F. Godwin (see quot. 1633).

An imaginary creature, perhaps combining features of a cockerel or rooster with those of a crane (see etymology).

Esp. in Irish folklore: a white bird with various symbolic or portentous associations.

a fabulous bird venerated by the Indians.

A monstrous bird of Persian legend, imagined as rational, having the power of speech, and of great age.

(a) a species of Australian shrike or thickhead (Pachycephala gutturalis); (b) a mythical bird thought by some preliterate peoples to cause thunder.

A fabulous bird of the east, said to be a restless wanderer but to bring luck to any person over whom it hovers.

In full oozlum bird. A mythical bird displaying ridiculous behaviour (see quots.).

South African Mythology. A malevolent shape-shifting spirit that most frequently assumes the form of a bird. Also: (a name for) any of various…

An imaginary bird of a ferocious, desperate and occasionally charitable nature, noted for its excellence when cooked.

ho-ho bird, a mythical bird of pheasant-like appearance used frequently as an emblem of courage.

(a) = storm-petrel n.; (b) = thunder-bird n. (b) at thunder, n. compounds 2; (c) a local name (Norfolk) for the fieldfare (Swainson).