poor-will

American  

[poor-wil] / ˈpʊərˌwɪl /

noun

1. a goatsucker, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii, of western North America.

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Etymology

Origin of poor-will

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; imitative

Example Sentences

Outside a poor-will began to utter its weird call.

From The Claim Jumpers by White, Stewart Edward

At the same time came the call of the poor-will, which, close at hand, is a soft burring poor-will, poor-wil'-low.

From A-Birding on a Bronco by Merriam, Florence A.

The whip- poor-will was heard whistling his melancholy notes along the margin of the lake, and the ponds and meadows were sending forth the music of their thousand tenants.

From The Pioneers by Cooper, James Fenimore

Just now you should be in such cool mistiness, while you should be hearing a hermit thrush sing vespers, a cedar bird call, and a whip- poor-will cry.

From Michael O'Halloran by Stratton-Porter, Gene