妹背鳥いもせどり

noun

wagtail (Motacillidae, excluding pipits)

Rare classical term for wagtails and similar birds; the cross-reference 鶺鴒 (せきれい) is the modern common name.

See also: セキレイ

• 古ふるい和わ歌かでは「妹背いもせ鳥どり」が鶺せき鴒れいを指さすことがある。

  In old waka poetry, 妹背鳥 can refer to the wagtail.

noun

lesser cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus)

Rare classical term for the lesser cuckoo; the cross-reference ホトトギス is the common modern name.

See also: ホトトギス

• 「妹背いもせ鳥どり」はホトトギスの古こ名めいとしても使つかわれた。

  妹背鳥 was also used as an old name for the lesser cuckoo.