The DICT Development Group

  Nightingale \Night"in*gale\, n. [OE. nihtegale,nightingale, AS.
     nihtegale; niht night + galan to sing, akin to E. yell; cf.
     D. nachtegaal, OS. nahtigala, OHG. nahtigala, G. nachtigall,
     Sw. n[aum]ktergal, Dan. nattergal. See Night, and Yell.]
     1. (Zool.) A small, plain, brown and gray European song bird
        ({Luscinia megarhynchos syn. Luscinia luscinia). It
        sings at night, and is celebrated for the sweetness of its
        song.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) A larger species ({Lucinia philomela), of Eastern
        Europe, having similar habits; the thrush nightingale. The
        name is also applied to other allied species.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Mock nightingale. (Zool.) See Blackcap, n., 1
        (a) .
            [1913 Webster]

  nightingale
      n 1: European songbird noted for its melodious nocturnal song
           [syn: nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos]
      2: English nurse remembered for her work during the Crimean War
         (1820-1910) [syn: Nightingale, Florence Nightingale,
         Lady with the Lamp]