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Definition of nightjar

nightjar

/ˈnaɪt.dʒɑːr/
night · jar
Plural:nightjars
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nightjar Lexical Profile

nightjar Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A nocturnal or crepuscular bird of the family Caprimulgidae, found worldwide, characterized by highly camouflaged brown plumage, short legs, and a wide gaping mouth adapted for catching insects in flight.

Example

"As dusk settled over the heath, we could hear the distinctive, vibrating call of a nightjar hidden in the bracken."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for nightjar

• Nearby Words

nighthawk
nightie
nightingale
nightjar
nightlife
nightlight
nightlong

Word Origin & Etymology

Early 17th century; formed from 'night' and the verb 'jar' (meaning to make a harsh, vibrating sound), referring to the bird's distinctive nocturnal churring call.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Nightjar. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/nightjar
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