grackle
grackle Lexical Profile
grackle Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American Any of several long-tailed, typically iridescent blackbirds of the New World family Icteridae (especially the genus Quiscalus), native to North and Central America and noted for their loud, harsh calls and gregarious behavior.
"A massive flock of common grackles descended on the suburban park, their iridescent purple heads gleaming in the afternoon sun."
An Asian starling of the genus Gracula, such as the hill myna, historically recognized for its distinct yellow wattles and remarkable ability to mimic human speech.
"Early naturalists often classified certain vocal Asian starlings as grackles before modern taxonomy separated them from the American species."
• Rhymes for grackle
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'gracculus', meaning 'jackdaw', which is likely of imitative origin reflecting the bird's harsh, raucous call. The term was later applied by European settlers to somewhat similar-looking American blackbirds.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.