chimney swallow: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Specialist/Archaic)Archaic, Literary, Specialist (Ornithological)
Quick answer
What does “chimney swallow” mean?
A small, agile bird (Hirundo rustica), commonly known as the barn swallow, which historically nested in chimneys and other man-made structures.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, agile bird (Hirundo rustica), commonly known as the barn swallow, which historically nested in chimneys and other man-made structures.
The term can refer to the bird species itself or be used poetically/metaphorically to describe something fleeting, agile, or associated with hearth and home.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is archaic in both varieties. 'Barn swallow' is the modern term in both. In the UK, 'house martin' is a similar bird that also nests on buildings, which can cause confusion.
Connotations
Both associate it with a bygone, rural lifestyle. Slightly more likely to appear in British pastoral literature.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary speech. Might be encountered in old texts, regional dialects, or poetic usage.
Grammar
How to Use “chimney swallow” in a Sentence
The [chimney swallow] [verb: nested, darted, returned].We watched the [chimney swallows].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chimney swallow” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical/ornithological texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in modern conversation.
Technical
In ornithology, the specific term is 'barn swallow'. 'Chimney swallow' is considered a colloquial/archaic name.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chimney swallow”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chimney swallow”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chimney swallow”
- Using it as a modern, common term. Confusing it with the 'chimney swift' (a different North American bird).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. They are different species. The chimney swallow (barn swallow) is a passerine bird with a forked tail. The chimney swift is a North American bird from the Apodidae family, with long, slender wings and a short tail.
It would sound very old-fashioned or poetic. Most people today would say 'barn swallow' or simply 'swallow'.
Historically, these birds often built their mud nests on the vertical walls inside chimneys and on other indoor beams of barns and houses, hence the name.
Yes, it is a closed compound noun where 'chimney' modifies 'swallow' to specify a type of swallow associated with that habitat.
A small, agile bird (Hirundo rustica), commonly known as the barn swallow, which historically nested in chimneys and other man-made structures.
Chimney swallow is usually archaic, literary, specialist (ornithological) in register.
Chimney swallow: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɪmni ˈswɒləʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɪmni ˈswɑloʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Rare] One swallow does not make a summer (uses 'swallow' generically, not specifically 'chimney swallow').”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a small bird SWALLOWing smoke as it flies down a CHIMNEY (this is not true, but helps link the words).
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEED/AGILITY IS BIRD FLIGHT ('darted like a chimney swallow'); HOME/HEARTH IS A BIRD'S NEST ('the chimney swallow returned to the hearth').
Practice
Quiz
In modern ornithology, 'chimney swallow' is considered: