'Gnat hawk' definitions:
Definition of 'Gnat hawk'
From: GCIDE
- Gnat \Gnat\, n. [AS. gn[ae]t.]
- 1. (Zool.) A blood-sucking dipterous fly, of the genus Culex, undergoing a metamorphosis in water. The females have a proboscis armed with needlelike organs for penetrating the skin of animals. These are wanting in the males. In America they are generally called mosquitoes. See Mosquito. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Any fly resembling a Culex in form or habits; esp., in America, a small biting fly of the genus Simulium and allies, as the buffalo gnat, the black fly, etc. [1913 Webster]
- Gnat catcher (Zool.), one of several species of small American singing birds, of the genus Polioptila, allied to the kinglets.
- Gnat flower, the bee flower.
- Gnat hawk (Zool.), the European goatsucker; -- called also gnat owl.
- Gnat snapper (Zool.), a bird that catches gnats.
- Gnat strainer, a person ostentatiously punctilious about trifles. Cf. --Matt. xxiii. 24. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'gnat hawk'
From: GCIDE
- Goatsucker \Goat"suck`er\, n. (Zool.) One of several species of insectivorous birds, belonging to Caprimulgus and allied genera, esp. the European species (Caprimulgus Europ[ae]us); -- so called from the mistaken notion that it sucks goats. The European species is also goat-milker, goat owl, goat chaffer, fern owl, {night hawk}, nightjar, night churr, churr-owl, gnat hawk, and dorhawk. [1913 Webster]