oldwife

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oldwife

An oldwife swims near the coral reef.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A common long-tailed sea duck of the northern parts of the United States: A type of marine diving duck, specifically referring to the Oldsquaw (now more commonly called the Long-tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis), known for its elongated tail feathers and found in northern coastal waters.
    • Tropical Atlantic fish: A type of marine fish, likely referring to species in the family Balistidae, such as the queen triggerfish (Balistes vetula), known for its deep body and bright colors in tropical Atlantic reefs.
Usage Examples

  • Noun (Bird):

    • We spotted an oldwife diving for mollusks off the coast of Maine.
    • The distinctive call of the oldwife is a familiar sound in northern harbors during winter.

  • Noun (Fish):

    • A brightly colored oldwife darted into the coral crevice.
    • Anglers sometimes catch the oldwife, but it is not a major commercial species.
Advanced Usage
  • The term "oldwife" is considered an archaic or regional common name, especially for the bird. The modern ornithological name for the duck is Long-tailed Duck to avoid culturally insensitive terminology.
    • The bird once known as the oldwife is now properly called the Long-tailed Duck.
Variants and Related Words
  • Old squaw: An outdated variant name for the Long-tailed Duck (). This term is now discouraged.
  • Long-tailed Duck: The current preferred common name for the sea duck previously called "oldwife" or "oldsquaw."
  • Queen triggerfish: A common name for the tropical Atlantic fish () that may be referred to as an "oldwife."
Synonyms
  • For the bird: Long-tailed Duck, (archaic) oldsquaw.
  • For the fish: triggerfish, turbot (in some regional contexts for related species).
Related Phrases
  • Old wife's tale: This is a separate, common idiom meaning a superstition or piece of folklore, not directly related to the animal definitions of "oldwife."
    • That story about curing a cold with onion soup is just an old wife's tale.
oldwife

An oldwife swims near the coral reef.

Noun
  1. a common long-tailed sea duck of the northern parts of the United States
  2. tropical Atlantic fish

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