ˈwater-rail
[rail n.3]
A bird, Rallus aquaticus, having a general resemblance to the Landrail: native in the temperate portion of the eastern hemisphere.
| 1655 Moufet & Bennet Health's Improv. xii. 109 Water⁓rails are preferred in Italy before Thrushes or Quails. 1768 Pennant Brit. Zool. II. 385 The water rail is a bird of a long slender body, with short concave wings. 1829 Loudon's Mag. Nat. Hist. I. 289 The water rail has grey wings, spotted with brown; flanks spotted with white; bill, orange underneath. 1883 Fisheries Exhib. Catal. (ed. 4) 111 One Case with small Pike and Water Rail. |