bulbul
bulbul Lexical Profile
bulbul Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of numerous medium-sized, often noisy passerine songbirds of the family Pycnonotidae, native to Africa, the Middle East, and tropical Asia, typically characterized by drab plumage and a melodious voice.
"The red-whiskered bulbul is a popular cage bird known for its distinct pointed crest and pleasant, repetitive call."
A nightingale, especially as celebrated in classical Persian and Arabic poetry for its beautiful song.
"In traditional Persian literature, the bulbul is often depicted singing mournfully as a devoted lover of the rose."
Word Nuance & Usage
While ornithologists use 'bulbul' to classify birds of the family Pycnonotidae, in translations of classic Middle Eastern and Persian poetry, the word is almost universally used to mean 'nightingale'.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into English in the mid-18th century from Arabic and Persian 'bulbul', meaning 'nightingale', which is ultimately of imitative (onomatopoeic) origin, mimicking the bird's song.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.