snakebird

3 definitions found

snakebird - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Snakebird \Snake"bird`\, n. [So named from its snakelike neck.]
     (Zool.)
     1. Any one of four species of aquatic birds of the genus
        Anhinga or Plotus. They are allied to the gannets and
        cormorants, but have very long, slender, flexible necks,
        and sharp bills.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The American species (Anhinga anhinga syn. Plotus anhinga
           ) inhabits the Southern United States and
           tropical America; -- called also darter, and water turkey
           . The Asiatic species (Anhinga melanogaster)
           is native of Southern Asia and the East Indies. Two
           other species inhabit Africa and Australia
           respectively.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) The wryneck.
        [1913 Webster]

  Wryneck \Wry"neck\, n. (Med.)
     [1913 Webster]
     1. A twisted or distorted neck; a deformity in which the neck
        is drawn to one side by a rigid contraction of one of the
        muscles of the neck; torticollis.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. a person suffering from torticollis.
        [PJC]
  
     3. (Zool.) Any one of several species of Old World birds of
        the genus Jynx or subfamily Jynginae, allied to the
        woodpeckers; especially, the common European species
        (Jynx torguilla); -- so called from its habit of turning
        the neck around in different directions. Called also
        cuckoo's mate, snakebird, summer bird, tonguebird,
        and writheneck.
        [1913 Webster +PJC]

snakebird - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  snakebird
      n 1: fish-eating bird of warm inland waters having a long
           flexible neck and slender sharp-pointed bill [syn:
           snakebird, anhinga, darter]