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Definition of woodswallow

woodswallow

/ˈwʊdˌswɑːloʊ/
wood · swal · low
Plural:woodswallows
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woodswallow Lexical Profile

woodswallow Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Australian Any of several Australasian passerine birds of the genus Artamus, characterized by broad wings, a highly aerial lifestyle for catching insects, and a unique habit of roosting in tightly packed clusters.

Example

"During our hike through the eucalyptus forest, we spotted a flock of dusky woodswallows soaring overhead in pursuit of flying insects."

Word Nuance & Usage

Despite their name and similar appearance, woodswallows are not true swallows; they belong to the family Artamidae and are closely related to butcherbirds and currawongs.

• Nearby Words

woodsmoke
woodstock
woodstove
woodswallow
woodsy
woodville
woodward

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the 19th century from 'wood' and 'swallow', reflecting their common presence in open woodlands and their swallow-like aerial insect-hunting behavior.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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