The DICT Development Group
4 definitions found
for sawbill
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
Goosander \Goos"an`der\, n. [OE. gossander, a tautological word
formed fr. goose + gander. Cf. Merganser.] (Zool.)
A species of merganser ({M. merganser) of Northern Europe
and America; -- called also merganser, dundiver,
sawbill, sawneb, shelduck, and sheldrake. See
Merganser.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
Sawbill \Saw"bill`\, n.
The merganser. [Prov. Eng.]
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
Merganser \Mer*gan"ser\, n. [Sp. merg['a]nsar, fr. mergo a diver
(L. mergus, fr. mergere to dip, dive) + ['a]nsar goose, L.
anser.] (Zool.)
Mergus+({Merganser">Any bird of the genus Mergus ({Merganser), and allied
genera of the subfamily Merginae. They are allied to the
ducks, but have a sharply serrated bill, eat fish, and dive
for food. Also called fish duck.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
Note: The red-breasted merganser ({Merganser serrator)
inhabits both hemispheres. It is called also sawbill,
harle, and sheldrake. The American merganser
({Merganser Americanus.) and the hooded merganser
({Lophodytes cucullatus) are well-known species.
White merganser, the smew or white nun.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) :
sawbill
n 1: large crested fish-eating diving duck having a slender
hooked bill with serrated edges [syn: merganser, fish
duck, sawbill, sheldrake]
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