Nightingale | n. [ OE. nihtegale, nightingale, AS. nihtegale; niht night + galan to sing, akin to E. yell; cf. D. nachtegaal, OS. nahtigala, OHG. nahtigala, G. nachtigall, Sw. näktergal, Dan. nattergal. See Night, and Yell. ] 1. (Zool.) A small, plain, brown and gray European song bird (Luscinia megarhynchos syn. Luscinia luscinia). It sings at night, and is celebrated for the sweetness of its song. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Zool.) A larger species (Lucinia philomela), of Eastern Europe, having similar habits; the thrush nightingale. The name is also applied to other allied species. [ 1913 Webster ] Mock nightingale. (Zool.) See Blackcap, n., 1 (a). [ 1913 Webster ]
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