nightingale

¹

[ nahyt-n-geyl, nahy-ting- ]

noun

1. any of several small, Old World, migratory birds of the thrush family, especially Luscinia megarhynchos, of Europe, noted for the melodious song of the male, given chiefly at night during the breeding season.

Nightingale

²

[ nahyt-n-geyl, nahy-ting- ]

noun

1. Florence the Lady with the Lamp, 1820–1910, English nurse: reformer of hospital conditions and procedures; reorganizer of nurse's training programs.

nightingale

¹

/ ˈnaɪtɪŋˌɡeɪl /

noun

1. a brownish European songbird, Luscinia megarhynchos, with a broad reddish-brown tail: well known for its musical song, usually heard at night
2. any of various similar or related birds, such as Luscinia luscinia ( thrush nightingale )

Nightingale

²

/ ˈnaɪtɪŋˌɡeɪl /

noun

1. NightingaleFlorence18201910FEnglishMEDICINE: nurse Florence, known as the Lady with the Lamp. 1820–1910, English nurse, famous for her work during the Crimean War. She helped to raise the status and quality of the nursing profession and founded a training school for nurses in London (1860)

Word History and Origins

Origin of nightingale¹

1200–50; Middle English nightyngale, nasalized variant of nightegale, Old English nihtegale, cognate with German Nachtigall, literally, night singer (compare Old English galan sing; akin to yell )

Word History and Origins

Origin of nightingale¹

Old English nihtegale, literally: night-singer, from night + galan to sing

Related Words

• artist
• crooner
• diva
• musician
• soloist
• vocalist
• voice