gnat hawk

2 definitions found

gnat hawk - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Goatsucker \Goat"suck`er\, n. (Zool.)
     One of several species of insectivorous birds, belonging to
     Caprimulgus and allied genera, esp. the European species
     (Caprimulgus Europ[ae]us); -- so called from the mistaken
     notion that it sucks goats. The European species is also
     goat-milker, goat owl, goat chaffer, fern owl, night hawk
     , nightjar, night churr, churr-owl, gnat hawk,
     and dorhawk.
     [1913 Webster]

  Gnat \Gnat\, n. [AS. gn[ae]t.]
     1. (Zool.) A blood-sucking dipterous fly, of the genus
        Culex, undergoing a metamorphosis in water. The females
        have a proboscis armed with needlelike organs for
        penetrating the skin of animals. These are wanting in the
        males. In America they are generally called mosquitoes.
        See Mosquito.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Any fly resembling a Culex in form or habits; esp., in
        America, a small biting fly of the genus Simulium and
        allies, as the buffalo gnat, the black fly, etc.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Gnat catcher (Zool.), one of several species of small
        American singing birds, of the genus Polioptila, allied
        to the kinglets.
  
     Gnat flower, the bee flower.
  
     Gnat hawk (Zool.), the European goatsucker; -- called also
        gnat owl.
  
     Gnat snapper (Zool.), a bird that catches gnats.
  
     Gnat strainer, a person ostentatiously punctilious about
        trifles. Cf. --Matt. xxiii. 24.
        [1913 Webster]