Crocodile bird

Crocodile bird
Crocodile Croc"o*dile (kr[o^]k"[-o]*d[imac]l; 277), n. [L. crocodilus, Gr. kroko`deilos: cf. F. crocodile. Cf. {Cookatrice}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) A large reptile of the genus {Crocodilus}, of several species. They grow to the length of sixteen or eighteen feet, and inhabit the large rivers of Africa, Asia, and America. The eggs, laid in the sand, are hatched by the sun's heat. The best known species is that of the Nile ({Crocodilus vulgaris}, or {Crocodilus Niloticus}). The Florida crocodile ({Crocodilus Americanus}) is much less common than the alligator and has longer jaws. The name is also sometimes applied to the species of other related genera, as the gavial and the alligator. [1913 Webster]

2. (Logic) A fallacious dilemma, mythically supposed to have been first used by a crocodile. [1913 Webster]

{Crocodile bird} (Zo["o]l.), an African plover ({Pluvianus [ae]gypticus}) which alights upon the crocodile and devours its insect parasites, even entering its open mouth (according to reliable writers) in pursuit of files, etc.; -- called also {Nile bird}. It is the {trochilos} of ancient writers.

{Crocodile tears}, false or affected tears; hypocritical sorrow; -- derived from the fiction of old travelers, that crocodiles shed tears over their prey. [1913 Webster] ||


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • crocodile bird — n. a small African courser (Pluvianus aegyptius) which feeds on insects that are often parasites on the crocodile …   English World dictionary

  • crocodile bird — an African courser, Pluvianus aegyptius, that often sits upon basking crocodiles and feeds on their insect parasites. [1865 70] * * * ▪ bird  (Pluvianus aegyptius; see photograph >), shorebird belonging to the family Glareolidae (order… …   Universalium

  • crocodile bird — noun Date: 1868 an African bird (Pluvianus aegyptius) that is related to the pratincoles and lights on the crocodile and eats its insect parasites …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • crocodile bird — croc′odile bird n. orn a short legged African courser, Pluvianus aegyptius, inhabiting sandy riverbanks and lake shores • Etymology: 1865–70 …   From formal English to slang

  • crocodile bird — /ˈkrɒkədaɪl bɜd/ (say krokuhduyl berd) noun an African plover, Pluvianus aegyptius, which often sits upon basking crocodiles and feeds on their insect parasites …  

  • crocodile bird — noun African courser that feeds on insect parasites on crocodiles • Syn: ↑Pluvianus aegyptius • Hypernyms: ↑courser • Member Holonyms: ↑Pluvianus, ↑genus Pluvianus …   Useful english dictionary

  • The Crocodile Bird — infobox Book | name = The Crocodile Bird title orig = translator = image caption = author = Ruth Rendell cover artist = country = United Kingdom language = English series = genre = Crime/Mystery novel publisher = Hutchinson release date = 2… …   Wikipedia

  • Crocodile — Croc o*dile (kr[o^]k [ o]*d[imac]l; 277), n. [L. crocodilus, Gr. kroko deilos: cf. F. crocodile. Cf. {Cookatrice}.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A large reptile of the genus {Crocodilus}, of several species. They grow to the length of sixteen or eighteen feet,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Crocodile tears — Crocodile Croc o*dile (kr[o^]k [ o]*d[imac]l; 277), n. [L. crocodilus, Gr. kroko deilos: cf. F. crocodile. Cf. {Cookatrice}.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A large reptile of the genus {Crocodilus}, of several species. They grow to the length of sixteen or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Crocodile (song) — Crocodile Single by Underworld from the album Oblivion with Bells Released …   Wikipedia

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