goatsucker

[ goht-suhk-er ]
/ ˈgoʊtˌsʌk ər /

noun

Origin of goatsucker

1605–15; so called because formerly believed to suck the milk of goats; translation of Latin caprimulgus, itself translation of Greek aigothḗlas

Words nearby goatsucker

British Dictionary definitions for goatsucker

goatsucker
/ (ˈɡəʊtˌsʌkə) /

noun

US and Canadian any nocturnal bird of the family Caprimulgidae, esp Caprimulgus europaeus (European nightjar): order Caprimulgiformes. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): nightjar