caprimulgid
|cap-ri-mul-gid|
/ˌkæprɪˈmʌlɡɪd/
nocturnal nightjar-family bird
Etymology
'caprimulgid' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'caprimulgus', where 'capra' meant 'goat' and 'mulgere' meant 'to milk'.
'caprimulgid' changed from the Latin 'caprimulgus' into the scientific family name 'Caprimulgidae' in Modern Latin, and later entered English as the noun/adjective 'caprimulgid'.
Initially, it meant 'goat-milker' (a folk belief that these birds sucked milk from goats), but over time it came to refer specifically to the group of nocturnal birds known as nightjars and their relatives.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a bird of the family Caprimulgidae (nightjars, nighthawks, etc.), typically nocturnal or crepuscular insectivores with cryptic plumage, long wings, and a wide gape.
A caprimulgid perched on the fence, its mottled colors blending into the dusk.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/29 15:06