Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Nightingale \Night"in*gale\, n. [OE. nihtegale,nightingale, AS.
   nihtegale; niht night + galan to sing, akin to E. yell; cf.
   D. nachtegaal, OS. nahtigala, OHG. nahtigala, G. nachtigall,
   Sw. n["a]ktergal, Dan. nattergal. See {Night}, and {Yell}.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) A small, plain, brown and gray European song
      bird ({Luscinia luscinia}). It sings at night, and is
      celebrated for the sweetness of its song.

   2. (Zo["o]l.) A larger species ({Lucinia philomela}), of
      Eastern Europe, having similar habits; the thrush
      nightingale. The name is also applied to other allied
      species.

   {Mock nightingale}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Blackcap}, n., 1
      (a) .

Source : WordNet®

nightingale
     n 1: European songbird noted for its melodious nocturnal song
          [syn: {Luscinia megarhynchos}]
     2: English nurse remembered for her work during the Crimean War
        (1820-1910) [syn: {Florence Nightingale}, {the Lady with
        the Lamp}]