Ornith. Also erron. 7–9 troculus, 8 trochulus. [L. trochilis, a. Gr. τροχίλος, f. τρέχειν to run.]
1. A small Egyptian bird (not certainly identified) said by the ancients to pick the teeth of the crocodile. Also allusively (in quot. 1856 attrib.).
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 44. The birde Trochilus lyueth by the mouth of the Crocodile and is not spoyled.
1596. Lodge, Marg. Amer. (Hunter. Cl.), 48. Why the swanne hateth the sparrow, the eagle the Trochilus, the asse the bee [etc.].
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., II. 100. A little bird called Troculus, doth feede her selfe by the picking of his teeth.
a. 1658. Cleveland, Char. Country-Comm.-Man, Wks. (1687), 74. So the poor Souldiers live like Trochilus, by picking the Teeth of this sacred Crocodile.
1856. R. A. Vaughan, Mystics (1860), II. IX. iii. 134. This troculus service—the picking the teeth of the gorged ecclesiastical crocodile.
1910. D. W. Thompson, trans. Aristotle’s Hist. Anim., 612. When the crocodile yawns, the trochilus flies into his mouth and cleans his teeth.
2. An alleged name for some species of wren, or other small European bird.
[1678. Ray, Willughby’s Ornithol., II. xi. 227. The golden-crown’d Wren: Regulus cristatus…. The Trochilus of Pliny and Aristotle.]
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Trochilus, the fin-footed Runner; a Bird so call’d because it always runs; a Wren.
3. A Linnæan genus of American birds, originally including all the then known humming-birds; now greatly restricted.
In first quot. app. used for some other small bird.
1672. Josselyn, New Eng. Rarities, 7. The Troculus, a small bird, black and white, no bigger than a Swallow.
1752. J. Hill, Hist. Anim., 502. The gold and purple Trochilus. The yellow Humming-bird.
1796. Stedman, Surinam, II. xxv. 219. The trochulus, or humming-birds, were so thick among the tamarind-trees, that they resembled a swarm of bees.
