Pronunciation: 
, , ,
, , , Forms:
1700s quaw-bird, 1700s– qua-bird. (Show Less)
1700s quaw-bird, 1700s– qua-bird. (Show Less)
Frequency (in current use):
Show frequency band information
Show frequency band information
Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: English qua ,
Etymology: qua, imitative of the bird’s call + Compare later (Show Less)
U.S.
1792 W. Bartram
(new ed.)
ii. x. 291
A. clamator, corpore subcæruleo; the quaw bird, or frogcatcher.
(new ed.)
ii. x. 291
A. clamator, corpore subcæruleo; the quaw bird, or frogcatcher.
1799 B. S. Barton 3/2
Night-Heron. (Qua-Bird).
Night-Heron. (Qua-Bird).
1835 IV. 471
The Night Heron or Qua Bird..is found in both the old and new world.
The Night Heron or Qua Bird..is found in both the old and new world.
1855 W. Whitman in L. Untermeyer
(1949)
490
Water-pheasant and qua-bird and pied-sheldrake.
(1949)
490
Water-pheasant and qua-bird and pied-sheldrake.
1890 E. Gosse 115
Thompson’s Point, the former residence of the night-heron or qua-bird.
Thompson’s Point, the former residence of the night-heron or qua-bird.
1917 I. 194
Black-crowned Night Heron. Nycticorax nycticorax nævius… [Also called] American Night Heron; Qua-bird; Quawk.
Black-crowned Night Heron. Nycticorax nycticorax nævius… [Also called] American Night Heron; Qua-bird; Quawk.
1792—1917(Hide quotations)
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This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
- qu., n.21657
- qu., n.31676
- qua, n.1631
- qua, prep.1647
- quaaltagh, n.1835
- Quaalude, n.1966
- quab, n.1a1425
- quab, n.21598
- quabbing, adj.1663
- qua-bird, n.1792
- quabling, n.1617
- quabmire, n.1597
- quacham, n.?1521
- quack, n.1c1390
- quack, n.21638
- quack, n.41822
- quack, v.11570
- quack, v.21646
- quack, int. and n.31577
- quacker, n.1832
- quackery, n.11675
- quackery, n.21828
- quackhood, n.1843
- quacking, n.11648
- quacking, n.21655
- quacking, adj.11570
- quacking, adj.21650
- quackish, adj.1670
- quackism, n.1722
- quackle, v.11622
- quackle, v.21837
- quackling, n.1750
- quackling, adj.1564
- quack quack, int. an…1698
- quack-quacking, n.1827
- quacksalver, n.1579
- quacksalving, adj.1607
- quackster, n.1709
- quacky, adj.11836
- quacky, adj.21895
