1 barn swallow | Definition of barn swallow
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barn swallow

noun

Definition of barn swallow

: a swallow (Hirundo rustica of the family Hirundinidae) that is widespread in the northern hemisphere, has a deeply forked tail, and often nests in or near buildings

Examples of barn swallow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 One minute the early evening sky above the Menomonee River Parkway in Wauwatosa was clear except for the darting silhouettes of a half dozen chimney swifts and barn swallows. — Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: Canada geese grouping up before molt migration," 9 June 2018 Here Pamuk flits like a barn swallow over fascinating issues of contemporary Turkish life, but never alights long enough to offer interesting insights or even substantially enrich the story. — Geraldine Brooks, New York Times, "In Orhan Pamuk’s New Novel, a Youthful Obsession Yields a Haunted Life," 16 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'barn swallow.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of barn swallow

1851, in the meaning defined above

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Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with barn swallow

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