ˈdevil-bird
A name popularly given to various birds, from their appearance, flight, cry, etc.; especially a. A local English name of the Swift; = devil 7 b.
| 1885 Swainson Prov. Names Brit. Birds 95 It is called..Devil bird (West Riding). |
b. The Brown Owl of Ceylon (Syrnium Indrani).
| 1849 C. Pridham Ceylon 737 (Y.) Devil's Bird..The wild and wailing cry of this bird is considered a sure presage of death and misfortune, unless [etc.]. 1860 in Tennent Ceylon I. 167 Note, The brown owl, which, from its hideous yell, has acquired the name of the ‘Devil-Bird’. 1876 Ceylon II. 145 The ‘oolanna’, or devil bird of the Sinhalese, whose horrid shriek at night terrifies the natives..some think it is not an owl, but a black night-raven. |
c. A name of the East Indian drongo-shrikes, family Dicruridæ.