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Webster 1913 Edition

Noun.

(Zool.)

One of several species of insectivorous birds, belonging to

Caprimulgus

and allied genera, esp. the European species (

Caprimulgus Europæus

); – so called from the mistaken notion that it sucks goats. The European species is also

goat-milker

goat owl

goat chaffer

fern owl

night hawk

nightjar

night churr

churr-owl

gnat hawk

, and

dorhawk

goatsucker ‎(plural goatsuckers)

Caprimulgidae