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Define the word water rail

"water rail" gcide "The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48"
Gallinule \Gal"li*nule\, n. [L. gallinula chicken, dim. of
   gallina hen: cf. F. gallinule.] (Zool.)
   One of several wading birds, having long, webless toes, and a
   frontal shield, belonging to the family Rallidae. They are
   remarkable for running rapidly over marshes and on floating
   plants. The purple gallinule of America is Ionornis Martinica, that of the Old World is Porphyrio porphyrio.
   The common European gallinule (Gallinula chloropus) is also
   called moor hen, water hen, water rail, moor coot,
   night bird, and erroneously dabchick. Closely related to
   it is the Florida gallinule (Gallinula galeata).
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: The purple gallinule of Southern Europe and Asia was
         formerly believed to be able to detect and report
         adultery, and for that reason, chiefly, it was commonly
         domesticated by the ancients.
         [1913 Webster]
"Water rail" gcide "The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48"
Water rail \Wa"ter rail`\ (Zool.)
   Any one of numerous species of rails of the genus Rallus,
   as the common European species (Rallus aquaticus). See
   Illust. of Rail.
   [1913 Webster]


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