Pewit

pewit
    n 1: small black-headed European gull [syn: {laughing gull},
         {blackcap}, {pewit}, {pewit gull}, {Larus ridibundus}]
    2: large crested Old World plover having wattles and spurs [syn:
       {lapwing}, {green plover}, {peewit}, {pewit}]
    3: small olive-colored woodland flycatchers of eastern North
       America [syn: {pewee}, {peewee}, {peewit}, {pewit}, {wood
       pewee}, {Contopus virens}]
    

Pewee \Pe"wee\, n. [So called from its note.]
   1. (Zool.) A common American tyrant flycatcher ({Sayornis
      ph[oe]be}, or {Sayornis fuscus}). Called also {pewit}, and
      {ph[oe]be}.
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   2. The woodcock. [Local, U.S.]
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   {Wood pewee} (Zool.), a bird ({Contopus virens}) similar to
      the pewee (See {Pewee}, 1), but of smaller size.
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Pewit \Pe"wit\, n. [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. OD. piewit,
   D. kievit, G. kibitz.] (Zool.)
      (a) The lapwing.
      (b) The European black-headed, or laughing, gull ({Xema
          ridibundus}). See under {Laughing}.
      (c) The pewee. [Written also {peevit}, {peewit}, {pewet}.]
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Laughing \Laugh"ing\, a. & n.
   from {Laugh}, v. i.
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   {Laughing falcon} (Zool.), a South American hawk
      ({Herpetotheres cachinnans}); -- so called from its notes,
      which resemble a shrill laugh.

   {Laughing gas} (Chem.), nitrous oxide, also called
      hyponitrous oxide, or protoxide of nitrogen; -- so called
      from the exhilaration and laughing which it sometimes
      produces when inhaled. It has been much used as an
      anaesthetic agent, though now its use is primarily in
      dentistry

   {Laughing goose} (Zool.), the European white-fronted goose.
      

   {Laughing gull}. (Zool.)
   (a) A common European gull ({Xema ridibundus}); -- called
       also {pewit}, {black cap}, {red-legged gull}, and {sea
       crow}.
   (b) An American gull ({Larus atricilla}). In summer the head
       is nearly black, the back slate color, and the five outer
       primaries black.

   {Laughing hyena} (Zool.), the spotted hyena. See {Hyena}.

   {Laughing jackass} (Zool.), the great brown kingfisher
      ({Dacelo gigas}), of Australia; -- called also {giant
      kingfisher}, and {gogobera}.

   {Laughing owl} (Zool.), a peculiar owl ({Sceloglaux
      albifacies}) of New Zealand, said to be on the verge of
      extinction. The name alludes to its notes.
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