Dictionary

nighthawk en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈnaɪthɑk/ (US)
• /ˈnʌɪthɔːk/ (UK)

Etymology

From night + hawk.

Meanings

1. (UK, regional) A nightjar, especially Caprimulgus europaeus (Eurasian nightjar).
2. (US) A New World nightjar of the genus Chordeiles, especially Chordeiles minor.
   • The swallows circled around and I watched them and the night-hawks flying above the roofs and drank the Cinzano. 1929, Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms, Folio Society, published 2008, page 91:
3. A person whose preference or custom is to remain awake and active during the night and the early morning hours.
4. A nighthawker (metal detectorist who works illegally at night).
5. (Japan, historical) An unlicensed prostitute who worked the roadsides at night.

Forms

Deriveds

common nighthawk · nighthawking · Antillean nighthawk · least nighthawk · lesser nighthawk · sand-colored nighthawk · Nacunda nighthawk

Synonyms

bullbat (New World nightjar) · night person (person who remains awake and active during the night) · night owl (person who remains awake and active during the night) · nightjar (New World nightjar)

Translations (21)

is húmfari (New World nightjar) · unm pishkw (New World nightjar) · fi isohaukkakehrääjä (New World nightjar) · it succiacapre (New World nightjar) · es chotacabras (New World nightjar) · chy pe'e (New World nightjar) · it succiacapre (Caprimulgus europaeus) · it nottolone (New World nightjar) · it nottolone (Caprimulgus europaeus) · fr engoulevent (Caprimulgus europaeus) · nv biizhii (New World nightjar) · chr ᎠᏒᏃᏱ (New World nightjar) · it caprimulgo (Caprimulgus europaeus) · kla c'asGiips (New World nightjar) · nv biizhii íiyisígíí (New World nightjar) · twf nų̀tòkeʼéna (New World nightjar) · bg козодой (Caprimulgus europaeus) · fi kehrääjä (Caprimulgus europaeus) · fi haukkakehrääjä (New World nightjar) · chr ᎦᎵᏍᏙᏯ (New World nightjar) · it caprimulgo (New World nightjar)