whippoorwill

noun

whip·​poor·​will ˈ(h)wi-pər-ˌwil 

ˌ(h)wi-pər-ˈwil

variants or less commonly whip-poor-will

plural whippoorwills also whip-poor-wills

: a nocturnal nightjar (Antrostomus vociferus synonym Caprimulgus vociferus) of chiefly eastern North America with a loud repeated call suggestive of its name

Illustration of whippoorwill

• whip-poor-will

Word History

Etymology

imitative

First Known Use

1709, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for whippoorwill

• basophil
• carboxyl
• daffodil
• neutrophil
• overkill
• anthill
• backfill
• bluegill
• crossbill
• distil
• distill
• downhill

Kids Definition

whip-poor-will

noun

ˈhwip-ər-ˌwil,

ˌhwip-ər-ˈwil,

ˈwip-,

ˌwip-

: an insect-eating bird of the eastern U.S. and Canada that is active at night and has a loud repeated call which sounds like its name