wagtail

[ wag-teyl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of numerous small, chiefly Old World birds of the family Motacillidae, having a slender body with a long, narrow tail tails that is habitually wagged up and down.
any of several similar birds, as the water thrushes of the genus Seiurus.

wagtail

/ ˈwæɡˌteɪl /

any of various passerine songbirds of the genera Motacilla and Dendronanthus, of Eurasia and Africa, having a very long tail that wags when the bird walks: family Motacillidae

Origin of wagtail¹

First recorded in 1500–10; wag + tail ¹

From Bungay in Suffolk comes the news that a water-wagtail has built its nest in a milk-can.

The wagtail is a house-bird, making the houses or cattle-pens its centre, and remaining about them for months.

Brown thrushes, dark blackbird, blue tit, and wagtail gave a little colour to the angle of the meadow.

In the ivy close under the window there, within reach of the hand, a water-wagtail built its nest.

These are both black-and-white birds—the magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis) and the pied wagtail (Motacilla maderaspatensis).

April 24, 2024gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Browse