Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A little bird; hence, any ungrown bird; a nestling, fledgling, or chick.
- noun [capitalized] [NL.: in allusion to the wing-like expansion of the hinge.] In conchology, a genus of bivalve mollusks, typical of the family Aviculidœ; the wing-shells. A. hirundo is the type.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Zoöl.) A genus of marine bivalves, having a pearly interior, allied to the pearl oyster; -- so called from a supposed resemblance of the typical species to a bird.
Etymologies
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Examples
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Their teacher had a feathered pet -- "quædam avicula quæ vulgo ob ruborem corpusculi rubisca nuncupatur" -- a robin-redbreast, in fact, an animal whose good fortune it is never to be mentioned without some kindly reference to his universal popularity, and the decoration which renders him so easily recognised wherever he appears.
The Book-Hunter A New Edition, with a Memoir of the Author John Hill Burton
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Tim., ii, 9; etc. The pearl is a concretion consisting chiefly of carbonate of lime found in several bivalve mollusks, but especially in the avicula margaritifera.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 14: Simony-Tournon 1840-1916 1913
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Sed verba Dei non mentiuntur, et exempla ostendunt etc. Econtra qui Verbo Dei fidunt, die muessen genug haben etc., ut David, qui erat vergeucht [verjagt] und verscheucht ut avicula; tamen mansit rex.
Historical Introductions to the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church 1894
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Mr. Ray has given an excellent characteristic of it when he says, "_Rostrum et pedes in hac avicula multo majores sunt quam pro corporis ratione_."
The Natural History of Selborne, Vol. 1 Gilbert White 1756
qms commented on the word avicula
Gossip in whispers, not boldly.
(I hear that it's true, but don't hold me...)
Cite no one particular -
Your source is avicula.
Just say that "a little bird told me."
December 14, 2014