bulbul

noun

bul·​bul ˈbu̇l-ˌbu̇l How to pronounce bulbul (audio)
1
: a songbird frequently mentioned in Persian poetry that is probably a nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)
2
: any of a group of gregarious passerine birds (family Pycnonotidae) of Asia and Africa

Examples of bulbul in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At a temple on the outskirts of the state capital, the bulbuls — songbirds about the size of a bluejay — fluttered up in the air and swooped down on their opponents, their owners holding a string tied around their legs. — Anupam Nath, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2024 For a bulbul, the costs of abandoning a nest and starting anew are huge. — Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2011

Word History

Etymology

Persian, from Arabic

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bulbul was in 1665

Browse Nearby Words

bulb-tee
bulbul
bulbus arteriosus
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bulbul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulbul. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bulbul

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