CROSSBILL

crossbill, Loxia curvirostra

(noun) finch with a bill whose tips cross when closed

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

crossbill (plural crossbills)

Any of various finches of the genus Loxia, whose bill crosses over at the tips; they are specialist feeders on conifer cones.

(legal) A bill brought by a defendant, in an equity or chancery suit, against the plaintiff, respecting the matter in question in that suit.

Hyponyms

• common crossbill, Loxia curvirostra

• Hispaniolan crossbill, Loxia megaplaga

• parrot crossbill, Loxia pytyopsittacus

• red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra

• Scottish crossbill, ''Loxia scotica

• Cassia crossbill, Loxia sinesciuris

• two-barred crossbill, Loxia leucoptera

• white-winged crossbill, Loxia leucoptera

Source: Wiktionary

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Cross"bill` (-bl`). (Law)

Definition: A bill brought by a defendant, in an equity or chancery suit, against the plaintiff, respecting the matter in question in that suit. Bouvier.

Note: In criminal practice, cross bills of indictment for assault, in which the prosecutor in once case is the defendant in another, may be tried together.

Cross"bill`, n. (Zoöl.)

Definition: A bird of the genus Loxia, allied to the finches. Their mandibles are strongly curved and cross each other; the crossbeak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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