Night"in*gale (?), 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. naktergal, Dan. nattergal. See Night, and Yell.]
1. Zool.
A small, plain, brown and gray European song bird (Luscinia luscinia). It sings at night, and is celebrated for the sweetness of its song.
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.
Mock nightingale. Zool. See Blackcap, n., 1 (a).
© Webster 1913.