tern \tern\ t~ern, n. dan. terne, taerne; akin to sw.
   taumrna, icel. thornerna; cf. nl. sterna. zool.
   any one of numerous species of long-winged aquatic birds,
   allied to the gulls, and belonging to sterna and various
   allied genera.
   1913 webster

   note: terns differ from gulls chiefly in their graceful form,
         in their weaker and more slender bills and feet, and
         their longer and more pointed wings. the tail is
         usually forked. most of the species are white with the
         back and wings pale gray, and often with a dark head.
         the common european tern sterna hirundo is found
         also in asia and america. among other american species
         are the arctic tern sterna paradisaea, the roseate
         tern sterna dougalli, the least tern sterna
         antillarum, the royal tern sterna maxima, and the
         sooty tern sterna fuliginosa.
         1913 webster

   hooded tern. see fairy bird, under fairy.

   marsh tern, any tern of the genus hydrochelidon. they
      frequent marshes and rivers and feed largely upon insects.
      

   river tern, any tern belonging to seena or allied genera
      which frequent rivers.

   sea tern, any tern of the genus thalasseus. terns of this
      genus have very long, pointed wings, and chiefly frequent
      seas and the mouths of large rivers.
      1913 webster
see also:
sterna sterna hirundo sterna paradisaea sterna dougalli sterna antillarum sterna maxima 
sterna fuliginosa hooded tern fairy bird fairy marsh tern 
hydrochelidon river tern seena sea tern thalasseus 

fairy \fair"y\, a.
   1. of or pertaining to fairies.
      1913 webster

   2. given by fairies; as, fairy money. --dryden.
      1913 webster

   fairy bird zool., the euoropean little tern sterna
      minuta; -- called also sea swallow, and hooded tern.
      

   fairy bluebird. zool. see under bluebird.

   fairy martin zool., a european swallow hirrundo ariel
      that builds flask-shaped nests of mud on overhanging
      cliffs.

   fairy rings or fairy circles, the circles formed in
      grassy lawns by certain fungi as marasmius oreades,
      formerly supposed to be caused by fairies in their
      midnight dances; also, the mushrooms themselves. such
      circles may have diameters larger than three meters.

   fairy shrimp zool., a european fresh-water phyllopod
      crustacean chirocephalus diaphanus; -- so called from
      its delicate colors, transparency, and graceful motions.
      the name is sometimes applied to similar american species.
      

   fairy stone paleon., an echinite.
      1913 webster
see also:
fairy bird sterna minuta sea swallow hooded tern fairy bluebird bluebird 
fairy martin hirrundo ariel fairy rings fairy circles marasmius oreades 
fairy shrimp chirocephalus diaphanus fairy stone