Category:Nightingale

Night"in*gale, n. Etym: [oe. nihtegale,nightingale, as. nihtegale; Niht night + galan to sing, akin to e. yell; cf. D. nachtegaal, os. Nahtigala, ohg. nahtigala, g. nachtigall, sw. näktergal, dan. Nattergal. See night, and yell.]

1. (zoöl.)

Defn: a small, plain, brown and gray european song bird (luscinia Luscinia). It sings at night, and is celebrated for the sweetness of Its song.

2. (zoöl.)

Defn: a larger species (lucinia philomela), of eastern europe, having Similar habits; the thrush nightingale. The name is also applied to Other allied species. Mock nightingale. (zoöl.) See blackcap, n., 1 (a).