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wagtail
Part of speech: NounA small bird with a long tail which is habitually jerked up and down.
Usage examples "wagtail":- She burst into loud sobs, and the governess had started up to put an end to a dialogue which she could not understand, and which was therefore vexatious and provoking, when the water- wagtail fell on her knees before the little girl, threw her arms round her, and bursting into tears, exclaimed: " Mary- darling little Mary forgive me. - "The Complete Historical Romances of Georg Ebers", Georg Ebers.
- Even Bishop John, who did not shrink from entering the houses of the sick to give them spiritual consolation, praised Katharina's conduct; and he, who had hitherto regarded the water- wagtail as no more than a bright, restless child, treated her with respect, talked to her as to a grown- up person, and answered her questions- which for the most part referred to Paula- gravely and fully. - "The Complete Historical Romances of Georg Ebers", Georg Ebers.
- However the books may tell us the bird is a wagtail, it certainly possesses two strong characteristics of true larks: it is a walker, delighting in walking or running, never hopping over the ground, and it has the angelic habit of singing as it flies. - "Bird-Neighbors", Blanchan, Neltje.