Main Entry:

¹swal·low

Pronunciation:

\ˈswä-(ˌ)lō\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English swalowe, from Old English swealwe; akin to Old High German swalawa swallow

Date:

before 12th century

1 : any of numerous small widely distributed oscine birds (family Hirundinidae, the swallow family) that have a short bill, long pointed wings, and often a deeply forked tail and that feed on insects caught on the wing 2 : any of several birds that superficially resemble swallows

[swallow illustration]