nighthawk

See also: night hawk

English

Etymology

From night +‎ hawk.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈnʌɪthɔːk/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈnaɪthɑk/

Noun

nighthawk (plural nighthawks)

A nighthawk.

1. (UK, regional) A nightjar, especially Caprimulgus europaeus (Eurasian nightjar). [from 17th c.]
2. (US) A New World nightjar of the genus Chordeiles, especially Chordeiles minor. [from 18th c.]
   • 1929, Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms, Folio Society, published 2008, page 91:

     The swallows circled around and I watched them and the night-hawks flying above the roofs and drank the Cinzano.

3. A person whose preference or custom is to remain awake and active during the night and the early morning hours. [from 19th c.]
4. A nighthawker (metal detectorist who works illegally at night).

Synonyms

• (New World nightjar): bullbat, nightjar
• (person who remains awake and active during the night): night owl, night person

Derived terms

• Antillean nighthawk (Chordeiles gundlachii)
• common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)
• least nighthawk (Chordeiles pusillus)
• lesser nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis)
• Nacunda nighthawk (Chordeiles nacunda)
• sand-colored nighthawk (Chordeiles rupestris)

Translations

Caprimulgus europaeus

• Bulgarian: козодой (bg) m (kozodoj)
• Finnish: kehrääjä (fi)
• French: engoulevent (fr) m
• Italian: nottolone m, succiacapre (it) m, caprimulgo (it) m

New World nightjar

• Cherokee: ᎠᏒᏃᏱ (asvnoyi), ᎦᎵᏍᏙᏯ (galisdoya)
• Cheyenne: pe'e
• Finnish: haukkakehrääjä (bird of the genus Chordeiles); isohaukkakehrääjä (fi) (Chordeiles minor)
• Icelandic: húmfari (is) m
• Italian: nottolone m, caprimulgo (it) m, succiacapre (it) m
• Klamath-Modoc: c'asGiips
• Navajo: biizhii íiyisígíí, biizhii
• Spanish: chotacabras (es) m
• Taos: nų̀tòkeʼéna
• Unami: pishkw

night owl — see night owl