'Xema ridibundus' definitions:

Definition of 'Xema ridibundus'

From: GCIDE
  • Laughing \Laugh"ing\, a. & n. from Laugh, v. i. [1913 Webster]
  • Laughing falcon (Zool.), a South American hawk (Herpetotheres cachinnans); -- so called from its notes, which resemble a shrill laugh.
  • Laughing gas (Chem.), nitrous oxide, also called hyponitrous oxide, or protoxide of nitrogen; -- so called from the exhilaration and laughing which it sometimes produces when inhaled. It has been much used as an anaesthetic agent, though now its use is primarily in dentistry
  • Laughing goose (Zool.), the European white-fronted goose.
  • Laughing gull. (Zool.) (a) A common European gull (Xema ridibundus); -- called also pewit, black cap, red-legged gull, and {sea crow}. (b) An American gull (Larus atricilla). In summer the head is nearly black, the back slate color, and the five outer primaries black.
  • Laughing hyena (Zool.), the spotted hyena. See Hyena.
  • Laughing jackass (Zool.), the great brown kingfisher (Dacelo gigas), of Australia; -- called also {giant kingfisher}, and gogobera.
  • Laughing owl (Zool.), a peculiar owl ({Sceloglaux albifacies}) of New Zealand, said to be on the verge of extinction. The name alludes to its notes. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Xema ridibundus'

From: GCIDE
  • Pewit \Pe"wit\, n. [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. OD. piewit, D. kievit, G. kibitz.] (Zool.) (a) The lapwing. (b) The European black-headed, or laughing, gull ({Xema ridibundus}). See under Laughing. (c) The pewee. [Written also peevit, peewit, pewet.] [1913 Webster]