dust-bath


noun
  1. the action of a bird of driving dust into its feathers, which may dislodge parasites

Words Nearby dust-bath

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

How to use dust-bath in a sentence

  • This appears to be their only giddiness and frivolity, unless a dust-bath in the country road might be considered a dissipation.

    Bird Neighbors | Neltje Blanchan
  • The first function of the dust bath is to clean the feathers, and damp earth does this much better than earth that is very dry.

    Our Domestic Birds | John H. Robinson
  • No harm was done except to give Flyaway a dust-bath in her nice clean frock.

  • A dust bath for the hens will be appreciated in winter when the ground is frozen.

    Outdoor Sports and Games | Claude H. Miller
  • They use water to quench thirst, but when they are dirty they take a dust bath and are at once cleansed.

    The Crock of Gold | James Stephens