grackle

noun

grack·​le ˈgra-kəl How to pronounce grackle (audio)
1
: any of a genus (Quiscalus of the family Icteridae) of large American blackbirds having iridescent black plumage
2
: any of various Asian starlings (such as the hill mynahs)

Examples of grackle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The grackles are returning to residential pine groves to do the same thing. Taylor Piephoff, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 The red-wingeds and grackles have spent the winter foraging in huge flocks in open fields preferably in agricultural land. Taylor Piephoff, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 But species that can mimic the calls of others, like the catbird and grackle, also scored above the mean. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 14 Sep. 2023 Simon Reader, a biologist at McGill University in Canada, has researched grackles dunking food but was not involved in the recent study. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Dec. 2023 In birds, dunking has anecdotally been observed in more than 25 species in the wild, including grackles. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Dec. 2023 His nature is outgoing and gregarious, more grackle than ivorybill. Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 July 2023 In the other, a black grackle flies past a brightly colored arrangement of flowers, crossing paths with a cardinal and grosbeak. Claire Bugos, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Aug. 2020 Some suet feeders have baffles built in to deter pests and predators, while others are designed upside-down to keep larger birds like grackles, blackbirds, and blue jays at bay. Kristen (kj) Callihan, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grackle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Gracula, genus name, alteration of Latin graculus jackdaw

First Known Use

1772, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grackle was in 1772

Dictionary Entries Near grackle

Cite this Entry

“Grackle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grackle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

grackle

noun
grack·​le ˈgrak-əl How to pronounce grackle (audio)
: any of several rather large American blackbirds with glossy mostly black feathers

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