goat-sucker
Definition
- Noun:
- A bird of the nightjar family: "goat-sucker" refers to any of various nocturnal birds of the family Caprimulgidae, traditionally believed (falsely) to suck milk from goats. The name is derived from an old folk superstition.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The farmer swore he saw a goat-sucker near the barn at dusk. (A nightjar bird observed in the evening.)
- In many rural areas, the goat-sucker is called a "nightjar" or "nighthawk". (Alternative common names for the same bird family.)
Advanced Usage
- "goat-sucker" in ornithology: The term is now considered outdated or folkloric, but it persists in historical texts and regional dialects.
- Early naturalists documented the goat-sucker's habit of flying low over pastures, which gave rise to the myth. (Historical reference to the bird's behaviour and associated superstition.)
Variants and Related Words
- Nightjar (n): the modern, scientific common name for birds of the family Caprimulgidae.
- The nightjar is known for its distinctive churring call. (A more precise ornithological term.)
- Nighthawk (n): a common name for certain species of nightjars, especially in North America.
- The nighthawk hunts insects at twilight. (A regional variant.)
Synonyms
- Nightjar: the preferred modern term for the bird.
- Nighthawk: a synonym used for certain species.
- Whippoorwill: a specific type of nightjar in North America, sometimes grouped with goat-suckers.
Related Idioms
- "To believe in goat-suckers": an old expression meaning to accept a folk superstition or myth as fact.
- Only the most gullible farmers still believe in goat-suckers. (To hold an unfounded belief.)
Notes on Usage
- Historical context: The word "goat-sucker" is rarely used in modern English except in historical, folkloric, or literary contexts. It has been largely replaced by "nightjar" or "nighthawk" in scientific and common usage. The superstition that these birds suck milk from goats is false; they feed on insects.