kingfisher
(ˈkɪŋˌfɪʃə(r))
Forms: α. 5 kyngys fischare, 6 kinges fisher, 6–8 king's fisher. β. 7– kingfisher.
1. A small European bird (Alcedo ispida) with a long cleft beak and brilliant plumage, feeding on fish and aquatic animals which it captures by diving. Hence, extended to other birds of the family Alcedinidæ or Halcyonidæ, esp. the Belted Kingfisher of N. America (Ceryle alcyon), and the Laughing Jackass of Australia (Dacelo gigas).
Various superstitions have been associated with the Common Kingfisher, some of which it shares with the halcyon (which has been generally identified with it), esp. the belief that a dried specimen hung up indicated by its position the direction in which the wind was blowing.
| α c 1440 Promp. Parv. 275/2 Kyngys fyschare, lytylle byrde, isida. 1567 J. Maplet Gr. Forest 108 b, Beare a naturall grudge the one to the other: as doth the Eagle and the Kings Fisher. 1622 May Virg. Georg. iii. (1628) 89 When..dew refreshing on the Pasture fields The Moone bestowes, Kings-fishers play on shore. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. b ij, That a Kings fisher hanged by the bill sheweth where the winde is. 1688 J. Clayton in Phil. Trans. XVII. 989 The Fishing Hauk is an absolute Species of a Kings-fisher. 1797 Burke Regic. Peace iii. Wks. VIII. 326 This sanguine little king's-fisher (not prescient of the storm, as by his instinct he ought to be). |
| β 1658 Phillips, Halcyon, a bird called a King-fisher. a 1667 Cowley On Poverty, Here sad King-fishers tell their Tales. 1789 G. White Selborne ii. xlii. (1853) 271 The king⁓fisher darts along like an arrow. a 1821 Keats Imit. Spenser ii, There the Kingfisher saw his plumage bright Vieing with fish of brilliant dye below. 1893 Newton Dict. Birds 488 In habits Kingfishers display considerable diversity. |
2. The name of an artificial salmon-fly. ?
Obs.| 1787 Best Angling (ed. 2) 109 Two salmon flies, which are the principal ones, called the Dragon and Kings-fisher..of the most gaudy feathers there are, especially the peacock's. |
3. In full,
kingfisher blue. A brilliant blue colour.
| 1922 Daily Mail 11 Dec. 1 (Advt.), All the leading colours including Ivory, Apricot, Jade, Kingfisher, [etc.]. 1956 G. Durrell My Family v. 58 The sea smooth and opalescent, kingfisher-blue. 1970 Observer 18 Jan. 1/8 (Advt.), Both dresses in navy, deep oatmeal or kingfisher. 1971 R. Rendell One Across vi. 55 A wool dress of brilliant kingfisher blue. |