Rain bird

Rain bird
Rain Rain (r[=a]n), n. [OE. rein, AS. regen; akin to OFries. rein, D. & G. regen, OS. & OHG. regan, Icel., Dan., & Sw. regn, Goth. rign, and prob. to L. rigare to water, to wet; cf. Gr. bre`chein to wet, to rain.] Water falling in drops from the clouds; the descent of water from the clouds in drops. [1913 Webster]

Rain is water by the heat of the sun divided into very small parts ascending in the air, till, encountering the cold, it be condensed into clouds, and descends in drops. --Ray. [1913 Webster]

Fair days have oft contracted wind and rain. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Note: Rain is distinguished from mist by the size of the drops, which are distinctly visible. When water falls in very small drops or particles, it is called mist; and fog is composed of particles so fine as to be not only individually indistinguishable, but to float or be suspended in the air. See {Fog}, and {Mist}. [1913 Webster]

{Rain band} (Meteorol.), a dark band in the yellow portion of the solar spectrum near the sodium line, caused by the presence of watery vapor in the atmosphere, and hence sometimes used in weather predictions.

{Rain bird} (Zo["o]l.), the yaffle, or green woodpecker. [Prov. Eng.] The name is also applied to various other birds, as to {Saurothera vetula} of the West Indies.

{Rain fowl} (Zo["o]l.), the channel-bill cuckoo ({Scythrops Nov[ae]-Hollandi[ae]}) of Australia.

{Rain gauge}, an instrument of various forms for measuring the quantity of rain that falls at any given place in a given time; a pluviometer; an ombrometer.

{Rain goose} (Zo["o]l.), the red-throated diver, or loon. [Prov. Eng.]

{Rain prints} (Geol.), markings on the surfaces of stratified rocks, presenting an appearance similar to those made by rain on mud and sand, and believed to have been so produced.

{Rain quail}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Quail}, n., 1.

{Rain water}, water that has fallen from the clouds in rain. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • rain|bird — «RAYN BURD», noun. any one of several kinds of birds, such as the green woodpecker or the Jamaican cuckoo, supposed to foretell rain by its cries or actions: »From a group of trees came the liquid call of the rainbird (Cape Times) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Rain Bird — For other uses of Rain Bird and Rainbird , see Rainbird. Infobox company company name = Rain Bird Corporation company company type = Private foundation = 1933 location city = Glendora, California location country = USA slogan = The World s Leader …   Wikipedia

  • rain bird — Yaffle Yaf fle, n. [Probably imitative of its call or cry.] (Zo[ o]l.) The European green woodpecker ({Picus viridis} syn. {Genius viridis}). It is noted for its loud laughlike note. Called also {eccle}, {hewhole}, {highhoe}, {laughing bird},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Rain Bird (legend) — The Rain Bird in Native American legend was a bird who brought rain. A Rain Bird design is used in some Native American pottery. The name was borrowed by the Rain Bird Corporation to name their sprinkler …   Wikipedia

  • rain-bird — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Rain — (r[=a]n), n. [OE. rein, AS. regen; akin to OFries. rein, D. & G. regen, OS. & OHG. regan, Icel., Dan., & Sw. regn, Goth. rign, and prob. to L. rigare to water, to wet; cf. Gr. bre chein to wet, to rain.] Water falling in drops from the clouds;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Rain band — Rain Rain (r[=a]n), n. [OE. rein, AS. regen; akin to OFries. rein, D. & G. regen, OS. & OHG. regan, Icel., Dan., & Sw. regn, Goth. rign, and prob. to L. rigare to water, to wet; cf. Gr. bre chein to wet, to rain.] Water falling in drops from the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Rain fowl — Rain Rain (r[=a]n), n. [OE. rein, AS. regen; akin to OFries. rein, D. & G. regen, OS. & OHG. regan, Icel., Dan., & Sw. regn, Goth. rign, and prob. to L. rigare to water, to wet; cf. Gr. bre chein to wet, to rain.] Water falling in drops from the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Rain gauge — Rain Rain (r[=a]n), n. [OE. rein, AS. regen; akin to OFries. rein, D. & G. regen, OS. & OHG. regan, Icel., Dan., & Sw. regn, Goth. rign, and prob. to L. rigare to water, to wet; cf. Gr. bre chein to wet, to rain.] Water falling in drops from the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Rain goose — Rain Rain (r[=a]n), n. [OE. rein, AS. regen; akin to OFries. rein, D. & G. regen, OS. & OHG. regan, Icel., Dan., & Sw. regn, Goth. rign, and prob. to L. rigare to water, to wet; cf. Gr. bre chein to wet, to rain.] Water falling in drops from the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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