Definition of Black swan

1. Noun. Large Australian swan having black plumage and a red bill.

Exact synonyms: Cygnus Atratus
Generic synonyms: Swan
Group relationships: Cygnus, Genus Cygnus

Definition of Black swan

1. Noun. An Australian swan whose feathers are black. ¹

2. Noun. An occurrence believed impossible or not to exist. ¹

3. Noun. An occurrence believed impossible or not to exist, subsequently shown to exist. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Black Swan

black sheep
black sickness
black slug
black slugs
black smoker
black snakeroot
black spleenwort
black spore
black spot
black spots
black spruce
black squirrel
black stork
black stuff
black sumac
black swan
black swans
black tarantula
black tea
black tern
black tie
black tinamou
black tinamous
black tongue
black tree fern
black triangle
black truffle
black turnstone
black up
black urine

Literary usage of Black swan

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Austral English: A Dictionary of Australasian Words, Phrases, and Usages by Edward Ellis Morris (1898)
"Since 1855 the black swan has been the device on the postage stamps of Western ... 98: "A black swan, which species, though proverbially rare in other parts ..."

2. The Antiquary by Edward Walford, John Charles Cox, George Latimer Apperson (1908)
"Buchanan came into possession as Anderson's black swan Distillery. The Black Swan, Holborn, was a noted carriers' inn, where the carriers from Wendover, ..."

3. The Harleian Miscellany; Or, A Collection of Scarce, Curious, and by William Oldys, John Malham (1810)
"London, printed by JG for D. Brown, at the black swan,'without Temple-Bar; and are to be sold by WD in Amen Corner, 1684. Quarto, containing fifty.six pages ..."

4. Old England and New England: In a Series of Views Taken on the Spot by Alfred Bunn (1853)
"... AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS — A VERY DIRTY ACCOUNT AN ELECTION — LEVIATHAN STEAMER—A BLACK ' SWAN A DUTCH^LADY TWO SORTS OF HUSBANDRY SHAKERS — RIGHTS OF WOMEN ..."

5. Among Cannibals: An Account of Four Years' Travels in Australia and of Camp by Carl Lumholtz (1889)
"... black swan. CHAPTER I Introductory—Voyage to Australia—Arrival at Adelaide—Description of the city—Melbourne, the Queen of the South — Working men — The ..."

6. Austral English: A Dictionary of Australasian Words, Phrases, and Usages by Edward Ellis Morris (1898)
"Since 1855 the black swan has been the device on the postage stamps of Western ... 98: "A black swan, which species, though proverbially rare in other parts ..."

7. The Antiquary by Edward Walford, John Charles Cox, George Latimer Apperson (1908)
"Buchanan came into possession as Anderson's black swan Distillery. The Black Swan, Holborn, was a noted carriers' inn, where the carriers from Wendover, ..."

8. The Harleian Miscellany; Or, A Collection of Scarce, Curious, and by William Oldys, John Malham (1810)
"London, printed by JG for D. Brown, at the black swan,'without Temple-Bar; and are to be sold by WD in Amen Corner, 1684. Quarto, containing fifty.six pages ..."

9. Old England and New England: In a Series of Views Taken on the Spot by Alfred Bunn (1853)
"... AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS — A VERY DIRTY ACCOUNT AN ELECTION — LEVIATHAN STEAMER—A BLACK ' SWAN A DUTCH^LADY TWO SORTS OF HUSBANDRY SHAKERS — RIGHTS OF WOMEN ..."

10. Among Cannibals: An Account of Four Years' Travels in Australia and of Camp by Carl Lumholtz (1889)
"... black swan. CHAPTER I Introductory—Voyage to Australia—Arrival at Adelaide—Description of the city—Melbourne, the Queen of the South — Working men — The ..."

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