from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Kingbird \King"bird\, n. (Zool.)
1. A small American bird ({Tyrannus tyrannus}, or {Tyrannus
Carolinensis}), noted for its courage in attacking larger
birds, even hawks and eagles, especially when they
approach its nest in the breeding season. It is a typical
tyrant flycatcher, taking various insects upon the wing.
It is dark ash above, and blackish on the bead and tail.
The quills and wing coverts are whitish at the edges. It
is white beneath, with a white terminal band on the tail.
The feathers on the head of the adults show a bright
orange basal spot when erected. Called also {bee bird},
and {bee martin}. Several Southern and Western species of
{Tyrannus} are also called king birds.
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2. The king tody. See under {King}.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Bee \Bee\ (b[=e]), n. [AS. be['o]; akin to D. bij and bije,
Icel. b[=y], Sw. & Dan. bi, OHG. pini, G. biene, and perh.
Ir. beach, Lith. bitis, Skr. bha. [root]97.]
1. (Zool.) An insect of the order {Hymenoptera}, and family
{Apid[ae]} (the honeybees), or family {Andrenid[ae]} (the
solitary bees.) See {Honeybee}.
[1913 Webster]
Note: There are many genera and species. The common honeybee
({Apis mellifica}) lives in swarms, each of which has
its own queen, its males or drones, and its very
numerous workers, which are barren females. Besides the
{Apis mellifica} there are other species and varieties
of honeybees, as the {Apis ligustica} of Spain and
Italy; the {Apis Indica} of India; the {Apis fasciata}
of Egypt. The {bumblebee} is a species of {Bombus}. The
tropical honeybees belong mostly to {Melipoma} and
{Trigona}.
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2. A neighborly gathering of people who engage in united
labor for the benefit of an individual or family; as, a
quilting bee; a husking bee; a raising bee. [U. S.]
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The cellar . . . was dug by a bee in a single day.
--S. G.
Goodrich.
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3. pl. [Prob. fr. AS. be['a]h ring, fr. b?gan to bend. See
1st {Bow}.] (Naut.) Pieces of hard wood bolted to the
sides of the bowsprit, to reeve the fore-topmast stays
through; -- called also {bee blocks}.
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{Bee beetle} (Zool.), a beetle ({Trichodes apiarius})
parasitic in beehives.
{Bee bird} (Zool.), a bird that eats the honeybee, as the
European flycatcher, and the American kingbird.
{Bee flower} (Bot.), an orchidaceous plant of the genus
{Ophrys} ({Ophrys apifera}), whose flowers have some
resemblance to bees, flies, and other insects.
{Bee fly} (Zool.), a two winged fly of the family
{Bombyliid[ae]}. Some species, in the larval state, are
parasitic upon bees.
{Bee garden}, a garden or inclosure to set beehives in; an
apiary. --Mortimer.
{Bee glue}, a soft, unctuous matter, with which bees cement
the combs to the hives, and close up the cells; -- called
also {propolis}.
{Bee hawk} (Zool.), the honey buzzard.
{Bee killer} (Zool.), a large two-winged fly of the family
{Asilid[ae]} (esp. {Trupanea apivora}) which feeds upon
the honeybee. See {Robber fly}.
{Bee louse} (Zool.), a minute, wingless, dipterous insect
({Braula c[ae]ca}) parasitic on hive bees.
{Bee martin} (Zool.), the kingbird ({Tyrannus Carolinensis})
which occasionally feeds on bees.
{Bee moth} (Zool.), a moth ({Galleria cereana}) whose
larv[ae] feed on honeycomb, occasioning great damage in
beehives.
{Bee wolf} (Zool.), the larva of the bee beetle. See Illust.
of {Bee beetle}.
{To have a bee in the head} or {To have a bee in the bonnet}.
(a) To be choleric. [Obs.]
(b) To be restless or uneasy. --B. Jonson.
(c) To be full of fancies; to be a little crazy. "She's
whiles crack-brained, and has a bee in her head."
--Sir W. Scott.
[1913 Webster] beebalm