honeysucker

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   historical or regional: a sunbird, especially one of the nectar-feeding birds of Africa or southern Asia

   The purple honeysucker probed the flowers with its curved bill.

2. 2
   noun

   historical Australian: a honeyeater

   An early naturalist described the honeyeater as a honeysucker.

3. 3
   noun

   obsolete: a honeyguide

   The old catalogue used honeysucker for a bird now called a honeyguide.

4. 4
   noun

   South African informal: a vacuum tanker used to empty septic tanks or latrines

   The municipality sent a honeysucker to empty the blocked septic tank.

A compound of honey and sucker, first applied to birds that probe flowers or seek honey. Naturalists used it for several unrelated nectar- or honey-associated bird groups; the modern regional vehicle sense refers humorously to suction through a hose.

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