any of various aquatic birds of the genera Porphyrio and Porphyrula, typically having a dark plumage, red bill, and a red shield above the bill: family Rallidae (rails)
2. common gallinule
Word origin
C18: from New Latin Gallīnula genus name, from Late Latin: pullet, chicken, from Latin gallīna hen
gallinule in American English
(ˈgælɪˌnul; ˈgælɪˌnjul)
noun
any of various gruiform marsh birds (family Rallidae) that both swim and wade; esp., the moorhen
Word origin
ModL < L gallinula, pullet, dim. of gallina: see gallinaceous
Examples of 'gallinule' in a sentence
gallinule
`I must show you a picture of the purple gallinule, then.