chuck-will's-widow

noun

chuck-will's-wid·​ow ˌchək-ˌwilz-ˈwi-(ˌ)dō How to pronounce chuck-will's-widow (audio)
: a nightjar (Antrostomus carolinensis) of the southeastern U.S.

Word History

Etymology

imitative

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chuck-will's-widow was in 1791

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near chuck-will's-widow

Cite this Entry

“Chuck-will's-widow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chuck-will%27s-widow. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on chuck-will's-widow

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!