One of several species of insectivorous birds, belonging to
Caprimulgus and allied genera, esp. the European species (
Caprimulgus Europæus); -- so called from the mistaken notion that it sucks goats. The European species is also
goat-milker,
goat owl,
goat chaffer,
fern owl,
night hawk,
nightjar,
night churr,
churr-owl,
gnat hawk, and
dorhawk. [
1913 Webster]