n. 1. A songbird (Luscinia megarhynchos) of Eurasia and Africa with reddish-brown plumage, noted for the melodious song of the male during the breeding season, most often heard at night. 2. Any of various other songbirds of the genus Luscinia. [Middle English, from Old English nihtegale : niht, night; see NIGHT + galan, to sing; see ghel-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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