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Any one of numerous species of swifts which resemble the true swallows in form and habits, as the common American chimney swallow, or swift.

Having a tail like that of a swallow; hence, like a swallow's tail in form; having narrow and tapering or pointed skirts; as, a swallow- tailed coat.

One who swallows; also, a glutton. Tatler.

The European sapphirine gurnard (Trigla hirundo). It has large pectoral fins.

A swallow-tailed coat. This Stultz coat, a blue swallowtail, with yellow buttons. Thackeray.

um officinale) of the Milkweed family, at one time used in medicine; -- also called white swallowwort. African swallowwort, a plant of the genus Stapelia.

See under 1st Bank, n.

The common tern.

To swallow up; to engulf; to overwhelm; to cause to disappear as if by swallowing up; to use up; to include. "Dark oblivion soon absorbs them all." Cowper. The large cities absorb the wealth and fashion. W. Irving.

Capable of being absorbed or swallowed up. Kerr.

Absorbing; swallowing; absorptive. Absorbent ground (Paint.), a ground prepared for a picture, chiefly with distemper, or water colors, by which the oil is absorbed, and a brilliancy is imparted to the colors.

Swallowing, engrossing; as, an absorbing pursuit. -- Ab*sorb"ing, adv.

Inability to swallow.

A genus of plants including the milkweed, swallowwort, and some other species having medicinal properties. Asclepias butterfly (Zoöl.), a large, handsome, red and black butterfly (Danais Archippus), found in both hemispheres. It feeds on plants of the genus Asclepias.

ind." Shak. O blind guides, which being of an awkward religion, do strain out a gnat, and swallow up a cancel. Udall.

haft; as, ores are brought to bank. Bank beaver (Zoöl.), the otter. [Local, U.S.] -- Bank swallow, a small American and European swallow (Clivicola riparia) that nests in a hole which it excavates in a bank.

a (Aluco flammeus, or Strix flammea), which frequents barns and other buildings. -- Barn swallow (Zoöl.), the common American swallow (Hirundo horreorum), which attaches its nest of mud to the beams and rafters of barns.

The nest of a small swallow (Collocalia nidifica and several allied species), of China and the neighboring countries, which is mixed with soups.

To swallow without chewing; as, to bolt food.

A swallow-tailed flag; a distinguishing pen