nightjar
|night-jar|
🇺🇸
/ˈnaɪt.dʒɑr/
🇬🇧
/ˈnaɪt.dʒɑː/
nocturnal bird with a harsh churring call
Etymology
'nightjar' is an English compound formed from the words 'night' + 'jar', where 'jar' in this sense refers to a harsh, grating or jarring sound, so the compound denotes a bird that calls at night.
'nightjar' appears in English from the 17th century as a name for the nocturnal bird; the bird was also known by the Latin-based name 'caprimulgus' (from which the common archaic English name 'goatsucker' derives), with 'capri-' = 'goat' and 'mulgere' = 'to milk'.
Initially, the term specifically named the nocturnal bird noted for its harsh call; over time it has kept that primary meaning and has occasionally been used figuratively for a person who stays up late.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a nocturnal insectivorous bird of the family Caprimulgidae, having a cryptic plumage and a distinctive churring or buzzing call; e.g. the common European species Caprimulgus europaeus.
A nightjar perched silently on the branch and began its churring call as dusk fell.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
informal or figurative: a person who stays up late at night (a night owl).
He's a real nightjar — he writes most of his work after midnight.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/29 14:56