bobwhite

[ bob-hwahyt, -wahyt ]

noun

, plural bob·whites, (especially collectively) bob·white.

1. any of several true quails of the genus Colinus, family Odontophoridae, including C. virginianus northern bobwhite, distributed through much of the Americas, having mottled reddish-brown, black, and white plumage: the bobwhite gets its name from its whistling call, which sweeps upward in pitch as an easily discernible “bob-white.”

bobwhite

/ ˈbɒbˌwaɪt /

noun

1. a brown North American quail, Colinus virginianus , the male of which has white markings on the head: a popular game bird

Word History and Origins

Origin of bobwhite¹

An Americanism dating back to 1805–15; imitative of its call

Word History and Origins

Origin of bobwhite¹

C19: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

In many respects it resembles the bobwhite in color, though far more fancifully marked.

From Project Gutenberg

Unlike the bobwhite or the Montezuma quail of Mexico, the valley quail bunches in the fall.

From Project Gutenberg

I may add that both the gambel and a species of the Collinus, bobwhite, are found in this same section.

From Project Gutenberg

Female—The female, with the exception of the white dots on the breast and flanks is much the color of the female bobwhite.

From Project Gutenberg

The bobwhite roosts on the ground and always remains in single broods.

From Project Gutenberg