Purple grackle

purple grackle
    n 1: eastern United States grackle [syn: {purple grackle},
         {Quiscalus quiscula}]
    

Purple \Pur"ple\, a.
   1. Exhibiting or possessing the color called purple, much
      esteemed for its richness and beauty; of a deep red, or
      red and blue color; as, a purple robe.
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   2. Imperial; regal; -- so called from the color having been
      an emblem of imperial authority.
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            Hide in the dust thy purple pride.    --Shelley.
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   3. Blood-red; bloody.
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            May such purple tears be alway shed.  --Shak.
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            I view a field of blood,
            And Tiber rolling with a purple blood. --Dryden.
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   {Purple bird} (Zool.), the European purple gallinule. See
      under {Gallinule}.

   {Purple copper ore}. (Min.) See {Bornite}.

   {Purple grackle} (Zool.), the crow blackbird. See under
      {Crow}.

   {Purple martin}. See under {Martin}.

   {Purple sandpiper}. See under {Sandpiper}.

   {Purple shell}. See {Ianthina}.
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Crow \Crow\, n. [AS. cr[=a]we a crow (in sense 1); akin to D.
   kraai, G. kr[aum]he; cf. Icel. kr[=a]ka crow. So named from
   its cry, from AS. cr[=a]wan to crow. See {Crow}, v. i. ]
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   1. (Zool.) A bird, usually black, of the genus {Corvus},
      having a strong conical beak, with projecting bristles. It
      has a harsh, croaking note. See {Caw}.
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   Note: The common crow of Europe, or carrion crow, is {Corvus
         corone}. The common American crow is {Corvus
         Americanus}. See {Carrion crow}, and Illustr., under
         {Carrion}.
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   2. A bar of iron with a beak, crook, or claw; a bar of iron
      used as a lever; a crowbar.
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            Get me an iron crow, and bring it straight
            Unto my cell.                         --Shak.
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   3. The cry of the cock. See {Crow}, v. i., 1.
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   4. The mesentery of a beast; -- so called by butchers.
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   {Carrion crow}. See under {Carrion}.

   {Crow blackbird} (Zool.), an American bird ({Quiscalus
      quiscula}); -- called also {purple grackle}.

   {Crow pheasant} (Zool.), an Indian cuckoo; the common coucal.
      It is believed by the natives to give omens. See {Coucal}.
      

   {Crow shrike} (Zool.), any bird of the genera {Gymnorhina},
      {Craticus}, or {Strepera}, mostly from Australia.

   {Red-legged crow}. See {Crough}.

   {As the crow flies}, in a direct line.

   {To pick a crow}, {To pluck a crow}, to state and adjust a
      difference or grievance (with any one).
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