whydah

whyd·ah

also whid·ah (wĭd′ə, hwĭd′ə)

n.

Any of several African songbirds of the genus Vidua, the male of which grows long, drooping, predominantly black tail feathers during the breeding season. Also called widow bird.

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[Probably alteration of widow (bird).]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

whydah

(ˈwɪdə) or

whidah

n

(Animals) any of various predominantly black African weaverbirds of the genus Vidua and related genera, the males of which grow very long tail feathers in the breeding season. Also called: whydah bird, whidah bird or widow bird

[C18: after the name of a town in Benin]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

whyd•ah

(ˈʰwɪd ə, ˈwɪd ə)

n.

1. any of several African finches of the subfamily Viduinae (family Estrildidae), the males of which grow long central tail feathers during the breeding season.

2. any of several African weavers of the genus Euplectes, the males of which have similar long tails.

[1775–85; alter. of widow (bird) to make name agree with that of a town in Benin, West Africa]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

whydah - mostly black African weaverbird   whidah, widow bird weaver finch, weaverbird, weaver - finch-like African and Asian colonial birds noted for their elaborately woven nests genus Vidua, Vidua - whydahs

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.