bobwhite
bobwhite Lexical Profile
bobwhite Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A small New World quail (Colinus virginianus) native to North America, parts of Central America, and the Caribbean, characterized by its reddish-brown mottled plumage and named for its distinctive whistling call.
"While hiking through the tall brush of the Texas plains, we were startled by the sudden flush of a bobwhite."
American The characteristic clear, two-note whistling call made by this quail, which sounds like the bird is saying its own name.
"The ringing bobwhite echoed across the fields just before dawn, signaling the start of a new day."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in American English in the early 19th century as an echoic (imitative) word, directly representing the distinct, clear two-note whistling call of the male bird.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.