DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Swift, n.
 1. The current of a stream. [R.]
 2. Zool. Any one of numerous species of small, long-winged, insectivorous birds of the family Micropodidae. In form and habits the swifts resemble swallows, but they are destitute of complex vocal muscles and are not singing birds, but belong to a widely different group allied to the humming birds.
 Note: ☞ The common European swift (Cypselus apus syn. Micropus apus) nests in church steeples and under the tiles of roofs, and is noted for its rapid flight and shrill screams.  It is called also black martin, black swift, hawk swallow, devil bird, swingdevil, screech martin, and shriek owl.  The common American, or chimney, swift (Chaetura pelagica) has sharp rigid tips to the tail feathers. It attaches its nest to the inner walls of chimneys, and is called also chimney swallow.  The Australian swift (Chaetura caudacuta) also has sharp naked tips to the tail quills.  The European Alpine swift (Cypselus melba) is whitish beneath, with a white band across the breast. The common Indian swift is Cypselus affinis. See also Palm swift, under Palm, and Tree swift, under Tree.
 3. Zool. Any one of several species of lizards, as the pine lizard.
 4. Zool. The ghost moth. See under Ghost.
 5.  A reel, or turning instrument, for winding yarn, thread, etc.; -- used chiefly in the plural.
 6. The main card cylinder of a flax-carding machine.
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 Chim·ney, n.; pl. Chimneys
 1. A fireplace or hearth. [Obs.]
 2. That part of a building which contains the smoke flues; esp. an upright tube or flue of brick or stone, in most cases extending through or above the roof of the building. Often used instead of chimney shaft.
    Hard by a cottage chimney smokes.   --Milton.
 3. A tube usually of glass, placed around a flame, as of a lamp, to create a draft, and promote combustion.
 4. Min. A body of ore, usually of elongated form, extending downward in a vein.
 Chimney board, a board or screen used to close a fireplace; a fireboard.
 Chimney cap, a device to improve the draught of a chimney, by presenting an exit aperture always to leeward.
 Chimney corner, the space between the sides of the fireplace and the fire; hence, the fireside.
 Chimney hook, a hook for holding pats and kettles over a fire,
 Chimney money, hearth money, a duty formerly paid in England for each chimney.
 Chimney pot Arch., a cylinder of earthenware or sheet metal placed at the top of a chimney which rises above the roof.
 Chimney swallow. Zool. (a) An American swift (Chæture pelasgica) which lives in chimneys. (b) In England, the common swallow (Hirundo rustica).
 Chimney sweep, Chimney sweeper, one who cleans chimneys of soot; esp. a boy who climbs the flue, and brushes off the soot.
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 chimney swallow
      n 1: American swift that nests in e.g. unused chimneys [syn: chimney
           swift, Chateura pelagica]
      2: common swallow of North America and Europe that nests in
         barns etc. [syn: barn swallow, Hirundo rustica]