Apodidae

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family of birds noted for their exceptional flying ability with long wings and short legs, commonly known as swifts
2. A group of fast-flying avian species characterized by their aerial lifestyle and ability to feed while in flight
3. A diverse family of birds that are adept at aerial foraging, recognized for their streamlined bodies and swift movement through the air

Etymology: Apodidae is the scientific name of the family of swifts, and its story is a matter of Greek roots combined by naturalists. The first element is "a-", meaning "without," and the second is "pous," the Greek word for "foot." Put together, the name means "footless," a description that looks odd until you see a swift's legs. Swifts have very short legs and tiny feet, so they cannot perch on branches or walk along the ground the way sparrows do. They cling to vertical surfaces such as cliff faces, chimneys, and tree trunks, and most spend nearly their whole lives in the air. The name was applied by naturalists who classified birds by their anatomy, following the Linnaean system of scientific naming. The "-idae" ending is the standard suffix for animal families, derived from the Greek patronymic ending "-ides," so the family name is a formal construction rather than an ancient word. Ancient Greeks had a notion of footless birds, but the scientific use belongs to the modern taxonomists who sorted swifts into their own group.