house martin

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

house martin
    n 1: common small European martin that builds nests under the
         eaves of houses [syn: {house martin}, {Delichon urbica}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Martin \Mar"tin\, n. [F. martin, from the proper name Martin.
   Cf. {Martlet}.] (Zool.)
   One of several species of swallows, usually having the tail
   less deeply forked than the tail of the common swallows.
   [Written also {marten}.]
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: The American {purple martin}, or {bee martin} ({Progne
         subis} or {Progne purpurea}), and the European {house
         martin}, or {window martin} ({Hirundo urbica} or
         {Chelidon urbica}), are the best known species.
         [1913 Webster]

   {Bank martin}.
   (a) The bank swallow. See under {Bank}.
   (b) The fairy martin. See under {Fairy}.

   {Bee martin}.
   (a) The purple martin.
   (b) The kingbird.

   {Sand martin}, the bank swallow.
      [1913 Webster]