barn swallow

American  

noun

1. a common swallow, Hirundo rustica, of North America and Eurasia, that nests in barns and similar buildings.

---

barn swallow British  

noun

1. the US and Canadian name for the common swallow, Hirundo rustica See swallow 2

---

Etymology

Origin of barn swallow

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90

Example Sentences

Two new barn swallow murals by Harlem artist Marthalicia Matarrita had replaced ones badly damaged by graffiti.

From Washington Post • Jul. 7, 2022

Despite the well over 1,000 scientific publications about this species, female barn swallow song had never previously been the focus of a research article.

From Scientific American • May 4, 2022

The new arrivals included the mallard duck and barn swallow, whose normal range was previously well to the south.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 4, 2019

Here Pamuk flits like a barn swallow over fascinating issues of contemporary Turkish life, but never alights long enough to offer interesting insights or even substantially enrich the story.

From New York Times • Oct. 16, 2017

From the kitchen window comes the wit wit wit of a barn swallow, footfalls on ramparts, halyards clinking against masts, hinges and chains creaking in the harbor.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr