goatsucker

[ goht-suhk-er ]

noun

1. nightjar ( def 2 ).

goatsucker

/ ˈɡəʊtˌsʌkə /

noun

1. any nocturnal bird of the family Caprimulgidae, esp Caprimulgus europaeus ( European nightjar ): order Caprimulgiformes. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries)nightjar

Word History and Origins

Origin of goatsucker¹

1605–15; so called because formerly believed to suck the milk of goats; translation of Latin caprimulgus, itself translation of Greek aigothḗlas

Example Sentences

For instance, goatsuckers, a group of birds that includes the whippoorwill, do not milk goats, Aristotle’s declaration to the contrary notwithstanding.

From New York Times

Nightjars, a kind of nighthawk also known as goatsuckers, sat on the roads that had been baked by the day’s sun to stay warm in the chilly night.

From Scientific American

First referring it to the genus Caprimulgus, its original describer soon saw that it was no true goatsucker.

From Project Gutenberg

Both the nighthawk and the whip-poor-will belong to the goatsucker family.

From Project Gutenberg

A goatsucker may be confused with a swallow, and a swallow may pass as a tern.

From Project Gutenberg