long-bill

A long-bill probes the wet sand for worms.

Definition

1. Noun (Zoology):
   • A type of bird, specifically a wading bird known as a "long-bill" or "long-billed" bird, referring to species with an elongated beak, especially the common snipe or related shorebirds. In ornithology, "long-bill" is a colloquial term for birds in the genus Gallinago or similar families, characterized by their long, slender bills used for probing mud for food.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The long-bill is a migratory bird often found in marshes and wetlands. (Refers to a specific wading bird with a long beak.)
  • Birdwatchers spotted a long-bill probing the mud for worms at dawn. (Describes the bird's foraging behavior.)

Advanced Usage

• "long-bill" as a compound descriptor: In ornithological contexts, "long-bill" may be used informally to describe any bird with a notably long bill, but it is most commonly understood as a synonym for the "common snipe" or "Wilson's snipe."
  • The long-bill's distinctive call is a series of harsh, repeated notes. (Refers to the bird's vocalization.)

Variants and Related Words

• Long-billed (adjective): Having a long bill or beak.
  • The long-billed curlew is a shorebird with a very long, downcurved beak. (Describes a related species.)
• Longbill (noun, alternative spelling): A less common variant of "long-bill," used interchangeably.
  • The longbill is a shy bird that prefers dense vegetation. (Same meaning as "long-bill.")

Synonyms

• Snipe: A common name for birds in the genus , often called "long-bills."
• Shorebird: A broader category that includes long-billed wading birds.

Related Idioms

• "To have a long bill": (Figurative, rare) To be talkative or gossipy, derived from the idea of a bird's beak being used for constant pecking or chattering. However, this idiom is not common and may be considered archaic.
  • She has such a long bill; she never stops talking about others. (Figurative use, not standard.)

Additional Notes

• In Vietnamese, "long-bill" is translated as "chim dẽ giun" (a type of sandpiper or snipe), but in English ornithology, it is not a formal scientific name; it is a descriptive term. The word is rarely used outside of birdwatching or zoological contexts.