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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



141 words match “AUSTRALIAN”

SPINEBILL n.
Any species of Australian birds of the genus Acanthorhynchus. They are related to the honey eaters.
SPINIFEX n.
Any of several Australian grasses of the genus Tricuspis, which often form dense, almost impassable growth, their leaves being stiff and sharp-pointed.
SPOTTED a.
e fevers, esp. to typhus fever and cerebro-spinal meningitis. -- Spotted tree (Bot.), an Australian tree (Flindersia maculosa); -- so called because its bark falls off in spots.
SQUEAKER n.
The Australian gray crow shrile (Strepera anaphonesis); -- so called from its note.
STAG n.
ervicornis, and M. palmata, of Florida and the West Indies. -- Stag-horn fern (Bot.), an Australian and West African fern (Platycerium alcicorne) having the large fronds branched like a stag's horns; also, any species of the same genus. -- Stag-horn sumac (Bot.), a common American shrub (Rhus typhina) having densely…
STING n.
The point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying. Sting moth (Zoöl.), an Australian moth (Doratifera vulnerans) whose larva is armed, at each end of the body, with four tubercles bearing powerful stinging organs. -- Sting ray. (Zoöl.) See under 6th Ray. -- Sting winkle (Zoöl.), a spinose marine univalve shell of the…
STUMP-TAILED a.
Having a short, thick tail. Stump-tailed lizard (Zoöl.), a singular Australian scincoid lizard (Trachydosaurus rugosus) having a short, thick tail resembling its head in form; -- called also sleeping lizard.
SUGAR n.
eetish taste, and has been used as a substitute for sugar. -- Sugar squirrel (Zoöl.), an Australian flying phalanger (Belideus sciureus), having a long bushy tail and a large parachute. It resembles a flying squirrel. See Illust. under Phlanger. -- Sugar tongs, small tongs, as of silver, used at table for taking lump…
SUNDOWNER n.
A tramp or vagabond in the Australian bush; -- so called from his coming to sheep stations at sunset of ask for supper and a bed, when it is too late to work; -- called also traveler and swagman (but not all swagmen are sundowners).
SWALLOW n.
mon in India. -- Swallow warbler (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of East Indian and Australian singing birds of the genus Dicæum. They are allied to the honeysuckers.
SWAMP n. 2 definitions
er (Zoöl.), an Asiatic deer (Rucervus Duvaucelli) of India. -- Swamp hen. (Zoöl.) (a) An Australian azure-breasted bird (Porphyrio bellus); -- called also goollema. (b) An Australian water crake, or rail (Porzana Tabuensis); -- called also little swamp hen.
SYCOCERYL n.
s, regarded as an essential ingredient of certain compounds found in the waxy resin of an Australian species of fig.
TAIT n.
A small nocturnal and arboreal Australian marsupial (Tarsipes rostratus) about the size of a mouse. It has a long muzzle, a long tongue, and very few teeth, and feeds upon honey and insects. Called also noolbenger.
TALEGALLA n.
A genus of Australian birds which includes the brush turkey. See Brush turkey.
TEA n.
ea grown in Assam, in India, originally brought there from China about the year 1850. -- Australian, or Botany Bay, tea (Bot.), a woody clambing plant (Smilax glycyphylla). -- Brazilian tea. (a) The dried leaves of Lantana pseodothea, used in Brazil as a substitute for tea. (b) The dried leaves of Stachytarpheta muta…
THICKHEAD n.
Any one of several species of Australian singing birds of the genus Pachycephala. The males of some of the species are bright- colored. Some of the species are popularly called thrushes.
THUNDERBIRD n.
An Australian insectivorous singing bird (Pachycephala gutturalis). The male is conspicuously marked with black and yellow, and has a black crescent on the breast. Called also white-throated thickhead, orange-breasted thrust, black-crowned thrush, guttural thrush, and black-breasted flycatcher.
TULIPWOOD n.
much used by cabinetmakers for inlaying. Queensland tulipwood, the variegated wood of an Australian sapindaceous tree (Harpullia pendula). J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants).
TURTLEDOVE n.
resembling the true turtledoves, as the American mourning dove (see under Dove), and the Australian turtledove (Stictopelia cuneata).
VANJAS n.
The Australian pied crow shrike (Strepera graculina). It is glossy bluish black, with the under tail coverts and the tips and bases of the tail feathers white.
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