[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

swallow \swal"low\, n. oe. swalowe, as. swalewe, swealwe; akin
   to d. zwaluw, ohg. swalawa, g. schwalbe, icel.  sw. svala,
   dan. svale.
   1. zool. any one of numerous species of passerine birds of
      the family hirundinidae, especially one of those species
      in which the tail is deeply forked. they have long,
      pointed wings, and are noted for the swiftness and
      gracefulness of their flight.
      1913 webster

   note: the most common north american species are the barn
         swallow see under barn, the cliff, or eaves,
         swallow see under cliff, the white-bellied, or
         tree, swallow tachycineta bicolor, and the bank
         swallow see under bank. the common european swallow
         chelidon rustica, and the window swallow, or martin
         chelidon urbica, are familiar species.
         1913 webster

   2. zool. any one of numerous species of swifts which
      resemble the true swallows in form and habits, as the
      common american chimney swallow, or swift.
      1913 webster

   3. naut. the aperture in a block through which the rope
      reeves. --ham. nav. encyc.
      1913 webster

   swallow plover zool., any one of several species of
      fork-tailed ploverlike birds of the genus glareola, as
      glareola orientalis of india; a pratincole.

   swallow shrike zool., any one of several species of east
      indian and asiatic birds of the family artamiidae,
      allied to the shrikes but similar to swallows in
      appearance and habits. the ashy swallow shrike artamus
      fuscus is common in india.

   swallow warbler zool., any one of numerous species of
      east indian and australian singing birds of the genus
      dicaeum. they are allied to the honeysuckers.
      1913 webster
see also:
hirundinidae barn cliff tachycineta bicolor bank chelidon rustica 
chelidon urbica swallow plover glareola glareola orientalis swallow shrike 
artamiidae artamus fuscus swallow warbler dicaeum 

Artamus >> A Words
Artamus, definition of term: Artamus
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