Definition of Grackle

1. Noun. Glossy black Asiatic starling often taught to mimic speech.


2. Noun. Long-tailed American blackbird having iridescent black plumage.
Exact synonyms: Crow Blackbird
Generic synonyms: Blackbird, New World Blackbird
Group relationships: Genus Quiscalus, Quiscalus
Specialized synonyms: Purple Grackle, Quiscalus Quiscula

Definition of Grackle

1. n. One of several American blackbirds, of the family Icteridæ; as, the rusty grackle (Scolecophagus Carolinus); the boat-tailed grackle (see Boat-tail); the purple grackle (Quiscalus quiscula, or Q. versicolor). See Crow blackbird, under Crow.

Definition of Grackle

1. Noun. Any of several American blackbirds of the genus ''Quiscalus'' having iridescent plumage ¹

2. Noun. Any of several Asian myna birds of the genus ''Gracula'' ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Grackle

1. a blackbird [n -S]

Medical Definition of Grackle

1. One of several American blackbirds, of the family Icteridae; as, the rusty grackle (Scolecophagus Carolinus); the boat-tailed grackle (see Boat-tail); the purple grackle (Quiscalus quiscula, or Q. Versicolour). See Crow blackbird, under Crow. An Asiatic bird of the genus Gracula. See Myna. Origin: Cf. L. Graculus jackdaw. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Grackle

gracile tubercle
gracileness
gracilenesses
graciles
gracilities
gracility
gracing
gracioso
graciosos
gracious
graciously
graciousness
graciousnesses
grackle (current term)
grackles
grad
grad-shafranov equation
grad school
grad schools
grad student
grad students
gradability
gradable
gradable antonym
gradable opposition
gradables
gradate
gradated

Literary usage of Grackle

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

1. The Second Book of Birds: Bird Families by Olive Thorne Miller, Harriet (Mann) Miller (1901)
"The purple grackle is a handsome bird, larger than a robin, ... The purple grackle is said to eat corn, and also the eggs and young of other birds. ..."

2. The Auk: Quarterly Journal of Ornithology by American Ornithologists' Union, Nuttall Ornithological Club (1890)
"Its position in the key is quite correct.—DU ELLIOT, Am. Muf. Nat. Hist., New Tork City. The Purple grackle at Charleston, South Carolina. ..."

3. Bird-life: A Guide to the Study of Our Common Birds by Frank Michler Chapman, Ernest Thompson Seton (1897)
"PURPLE grackle. Length, male, 12'50 inches ; female, 11-00 inches. Jfo/e, head, neck, throat, and breast bright metallic blue, purple, or green ; back with ..."

4. The Century Dictionary: An Encyclopedic Lexicon of the English Language by William Dwight Whitney (1889)
"Our own native blackbirds, the crow blackbird, the rusty grackle, the cow-bird, ... containing the minas, as the religious grackle, G. religiosa. ..."

5. Birdcraft: A Field Book of Two Hundred Song, Game, and Water Birds by Mabel Osgood Wright (1897)
"Purple grackle: Quiscalus quiscula. Crow Blackbird. Length: 12-13.50 inches. PLATE 39. FIG. 2. Male and Female-: Glossy metallic black, iridescent tints on ..."

6. Bird Neighbors: An Introductory Acquaintance with One Hundred and Fifty by Neltje Blanchan (1904)
"The plumage of this grackle has iridescent bars. Iris cf eye bright yellow and conspicuous. Tail longer than wings. Female—Less brilliant black than male, ..."

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