Swallow \Swal"low\, n. [OE. swalowe, AS. swalewe, swealwe; akin
   to D. zwaluw, OHG. swalawa, G. schwalbe, Icel. & Sw. svala,
   Dan. svale.]
   1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of passerine birds of
      the family {Hirundinidae}, especially one of those species
      in which the tail is deeply forked. They have long,
      pointed wings, and are noted for the swiftness and
      gracefulness of their flight.
      
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   Note: The most common North American species are the barn
         swallow (see under {Barn}), the cliff, or eaves,
         swallow (see under {Cliff}), the white-bellied, or
         tree, swallow ({Tachycineta bicolor}), and the bank
         swallow (see under {Bank}). The common European swallow
         ({Chelidon rustica}), and the window swallow, or martin
         ({Chelidon urbica}), are familiar species.
         
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   2. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of swifts which
      resemble the true swallows in form and habits, as the
      common American chimney swallow, or swift.
      
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   3. (Naut.) The aperture in a block through which the rope
      reeves. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.
      
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   {Swallow plover} (Zool.), any one of several species of
      fork-tailed ploverlike birds of the genus {Glareola}, as
      {Glareola orientalis} of India; a pratincole.

   {Swallow shrike} (Zool.), any one of several species of East
      Indian and Asiatic birds of the family {Artamiidae},
      allied to the shrikes but similar to swallows in
      appearance and habits. The ashy swallow shrike ({Artamus  fuscus}) is common in India.

   {Swallow warbler} (Zool.), any one of numerous species of
      East Indian and Australian singing birds of the genus
      {Dicaeum}. They are allied to the honeysuckers.
      
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