Whippoorwills

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of nocturnal bird known for its distinctive and repetitive call, often associated with rural or wooded environments
2. Birds belonging to the nightjar family, recognized for their silent flight and camouflaged plumage
3. Various species of these birds thrive in North America and are known for calling during the twilight hours

Etymology: The name imitates the bird's song. Its call is a repeated run of notes that English speakers heard as "whip-poor-will," and the name was shaped to match that sound, a process called onomatopoeia. Several nightjars that sing at dusk and after dark bear the name, and a related bird, the chuck-will's-widow, follows the same pattern, named for its call. "Whippoorwills" is simply the plural of the singular noun "whippoorwill," formed by adding "-s."