acrocephalus phragmitis

Sedge \Sedge\, n. [OE. segge, AS. secg; akin to LG. segge; --
   probably named from its bladelike appearance, and akin to L.
   secare to cut, E. saw a cutting instrument; cf. Ir. seisg, W.
   hesg. Cf. {Hassock}, {Saw} the instrument.]
   1. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus {Carex}, perennial,
      endogenous, innutritious herbs, often growing in dense
      tufts in marshy places. They have triangular jointless
      stems, a spiked inflorescence, and long grasslike leaves
      which are usually rough on the margins and midrib. There
      are several hundred species.
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   Note: The name is sometimes given to any other plant of the
         order {Cyperaceae}, which includes {Carex}, {Cyperus},
         {Scirpus}, and many other genera of rushlike plants.
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   2. (Zool.) A flock of herons.
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   {Sedge hen} (Zool.), the clapper rail. See under 5th {Rail}.
      

   {Sedge warbler} (Zool.), a small European singing bird
      ({Acrocephalus phragmitis}). It often builds its nest
      among reeds; -- called also {sedge bird}, {sedge wren},
      {night warbler}, and {Scotch nightingale}.
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Night \Night\ (n[imac]t), n. [OE. night, niht, AS. neaht, niht;
   akin to D. nacht, OS. & OHG. naht, G. nacht, Icel. n[=o]tt,
   Sw. natt, Dan. nat, Goth. nahts, Lith. naktis, Russ. noche,
   W. nos, Ir. nochd, L. nox, noctis, Gr. ny`x, nykto`s, Skr.
   nakta, nakti. [root]265. Cf. {Equinox}, {Nocturnal}.]
   1. That part of the natural day when the sun is beneath the
      horizon, or the time from sunset to sunrise; esp., the
      time between dusk and dawn, when there is no light of the
      sun, but only moonlight, starlight, or artificial light.
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            And God called the light Day, and the darkness he
            called Night.                         --Gen. i. 5.
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   2. Hence:
      (a) Darkness; obscurity; concealment.
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                Nature and nature's laws lay hid in night.
                                                  --Pope.
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      (b) Intellectual and moral darkness; ignorance.
      (c) A state of affliction; adversity; as, a dreary night
          of sorrow.
      (d) The period after the close of life; death.
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                She closed her eyes in everlasting night.
                                                  --Dryden.
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                Do not go gentle into that good night
                Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
                                                  --Dylan
                                                  Thomas.
          [PJC]
      (e) A lifeless or unenlivened period, as when nature seems
          to sleep. "Sad winter's night". --Spenser.
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   Note: Night is sometimes used, esp. with participles, in the
         formation of self-explaining compounds; as,
         night-blooming, night-born, night-warbling, etc.
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   {Night by night}, {Night after night}, nightly; many nights.
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            So help me God, as I have watched the night,
            Ay, night by night, in studying good for England.
                                                  --Shak.
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   {Night bird}. (Zool.)
      (a) The moor hen ({Gallinula chloropus}).
      (b) The Manx shearwater ({Puffinus Anglorum}).

   {Night blindness}. (Med.) See {Hemeralopia}.

   {Night cart}, a cart used to remove the contents of privies
      by night.

   {Night churr}, (Zool.), the nightjar.

   {Night crow}, a bird that cries in the night.

   {Night dog}, a dog that hunts in the night, -- used by
      poachers.

   {Night fire}.
      (a) Fire burning in the night.
      (b) Ignis fatuus; Will-o'-the-wisp; Jask-with-a-lantern.
          

   {Night flyer} (Zool.), any creature that flies in the night,
      as some birds and insects.

   {night glass}, a spyglass constructed to concentrate a large
      amount of light, so as see objects distinctly at night.
      --Totten.

   {Night green}, iodine green.

   {Night hag}, a witch supposed to wander in the night.

   {Night hawk} (Zool.), an American bird ({Chordeiles
      Virginianus}), allied to the goatsucker. It hunts the
      insects on which it feeds toward evening, on the wing, and
      often, diving down perpendicularly, produces a loud
      whirring sound, like that of a spinning wheel. Also
      sometimes applied to the European goatsuckers. It is
      called also {bull bat}.

   {Night heron} (Zool.), any one of several species of herons
      of the genus {Nycticorax}, found in various parts of the
      world. The best known species is {Nycticorax griseus}, or
      {Nycticorax nycticorax}, of Europe, and the American
      variety (var. naevius). The yellow-crowned night heron
      ({Nyctanassa violacea} syn. {Nycticorax violaceus})
      inhabits the Southern States. Called also {qua-bird}, and
      {squawk}.

   {Night house}, a public house, or inn, which is open at
      night.

   {Night key}, a key for unfastening a night latch.

   {Night latch}, a kind of latch for a door, which is operated
      from the outside by a key.

   {Night monkey} (Zool.), an owl monkey.

   {night moth} (Zool.), any one of the noctuids.

   {Night parrot} (Zool.), the kakapo.

   {Night piece}, a painting representing some night scene, as a
      moonlight effect, or the like.

   {Night rail}, a loose robe, or garment, worn either as a
      nightgown, or over the dress at night, or in sickness.
      [Obs.]

   {Night raven} (Zool.), a bird of ill omen that cries in the
      night; esp., the bittern.

   {Night rule}.
      (a) A tumult, or frolic, in the night; -- as if a
          corruption, of night revel. [Obs.]
      (b) Such conduct as generally rules, or prevails, at
          night.

                What night rule now about this haunted grove?
                                                  --Shak.

   {Night sight}. (Med.) See {Nyctolopia}.

   {Night snap}, a night thief. [Cant] --Beau. & Fl.

   {Night soil}, human excrement; -- so called because in cities
      it is collected by night and carried away for manure.

   {Night spell}, a charm against accidents at night.

   {Night swallow} (Zool.), the nightjar.

   {Night walk}, a walk in the evening or night.

   {Night walker}.
      (a) One who walks in his sleep; a somnambulist; a
          noctambulist.
      (b) One who roves about in the night for evil purposes;
          specifically, a prostitute who walks the streets.

   {Night walking}.
      (a) Walking in one's sleep; sleep walking; somnambulism;
          noctambulism.
      (b) Walking the streets at night with evil designs.

   {Night warbler} (Zool.), the sedge warbler ({Acrocephalus
      phragmitis}); -- called also {night singer}. [Prov. Eng.]
      

   {Night watch}.
      (a) A period in the night, as distinguished by the change
          of watch.
      (b) A watch, or guard, to aford protection in the night.
          

   {Night watcher}, one who watches in the night; especially,
      one who watches with evil designs.

   {Night witch}. Same as {Night hag}, above.
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Mockbird \Mock"bird`\, n. (Zool.)
   The European sedge warbler ({Acrocephalus phragmitis}).
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