purple martin

purple martin

n. A large swallow (Progne subis) of the Americas, having glossy blue-black plumage and, in the female, a light-colored breast.

pur′ple mar′tin

n. a large American swallow, Progne subis, the male of which is blue-black. [1735–45, Amer.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

purple martin - large North American martin of which the male is blue-blackProgne subismartin - any of various swallows with squarish or slightly forked tail and long pointed wings; migrate around Martinmasgenus Progne, Progne - a genus of Hirundinidae