gallinule
(ˈgælɪnjuːl)
[ad. mod.L. gallīnula, the scientific name of the genus (in late L. the word occurs for a chicken), dim. of L. gallīna hen.]
Book-name for a genus of birds, typified by the moor-hen (Gallinula chloropus). Also extended to other birds of allied genera.
| 1776 Pennant Zool. II. 409–11 Gallinule..215. Spotted..217. Common. 1785 Latham Synopsis Birds III. i. 258 Common Gallinule..Common Water-Hen or More-Hen. 1833 C. Sturt 2 Exped. S. Australia I. i. 39 Various tribes of the galinule [sic]..made incessant noises around us. 1872 A. Domett Ranolf xvii. §3. 274 That rich gallinule of velvet violet plumage proud. 1888 Riverside Nat. Hist. IV. 131 The purple-gallinules..typified by the European species (Porphyrio porphyrio) and the American Ionornis martinica. |
So gallinuline a., pertaining to the gallinule.
| 1895 Pop. Sci. Monthly Apr. 764 It falls into line with another gallinuline character. |