nighthawk

[ nahyt-hawk ]

noun

1. any of several longwinged, American goatsuckers of the genus Chordeiles, related to the whippoorwill, especially C. minor, having variegated black, white, and buff plumage.
2. the European goatsucker or nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus.
3. Informal. a person who is habitually up or moving about late at night; night owl.

nighthawk

/ ˈnaɪtˌhɔːk /

noun

1. Also calledbullbatmosquito hawk any American nightjar of the genus Chordeiles and related genera, having a dark plumage and, in the male, white patches on the wings and tail
2. informal.
   another name for night owl

Word History and Origins

Origin of nighthawk¹

First recorded in 1605–15; night + hawk ¹

Example Sentences

There are some birds with really characteristic flight patterns that you can pick out—we can see nighthawks swoop up and down.

From Popular-Science

But it was Mr. Nighthawk, making that odd, booming sound of his.

From Project Gutenberg

The more he thought about Mr. Nighthawk the more he wanted to meet him.

From Project Gutenberg

Of course it was very rude for Mr. Nighthawk to speak in such a way.

From Project Gutenberg

Then Mr. Nighthawk left his perch and climbed up into the sky.

From Project Gutenberg

And at last Kiddie Katydid told him that it was Mr. Nighthawk that he had heard.

From Project Gutenberg