widow bird en · NOUN
Etymology
Compound of widow + bird. The name for the family Viduidae derives from the genus name Vidua, from post-classical Latin vidua (“widow”) for males' black plumage, which resembles the mourning clothes of a widow. Compare whydah, from Whydah, a city in the Kingdom of Dahomey, now Ouidah, Benin. The terms widow-bird and whydah-bird influenced one another due to association of one species with the city.
Meanings
- Any of several species of birds in the family Viduidae, incorporating whydahs and widow finches.
- Any of several species of birds in the genus Euplectes.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| widowbird | alternative | lexicographic | |
| widow birds | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
red-collared widowbird · long-tailed widowbird
Translations (2)
zu sakabula (Euplectes sp.) · pl wdówka (birds of family Viduidae)