bulbul

[ bool-bool ]

noun

1. a songbird often mentioned in Persian poetry, regarded as being a nightingale.
2. any of several oscine birds of the family Pycnonotidae, of the Old World tropics.

bulbul

/ ˈbʊlbʊl /

noun

1. any songbird of the family Pycnonotidae of tropical Africa and Asia, having brown plumage and, in many species, a distinct crest
2. a songbird, taken to be the nightingale, often mentioned in Persian poetry

Word History and Origins

Origin of bulbul¹

Borrowed into English from Persian around 1775–85

Word History and Origins

Origin of bulbul¹

C18: via Persian from Arabic

Example Sentences

The red-vented bulbul is not currently listed as a threatened or endangered species.

From Seattle Times

Both now have extra protections through new trade restrictions agreed at the global wildlife summit, with a complete ban on trading for the straw-headed bulbul.

From BBC

Later, I watched wild birds like melodic dusky thrushes, magpies and bulbuls alight on the fired clay temple roof.

From New York Times

Now we were drinking tea in his trellised garden at sunset to the singing of bulbuls.

From New York Times

Behind her, sparrows twitter and a bulbul, a songbird, trills from the branches of a sacred tree.

From New York Times