Jack·ass n.
 1. The male ass; a donkey.
 2. A conceited dolt; a perverse blockhead; -- disparaging and offensive.
 Jackass bark Naut., a three-masted vessel, with only the foremast square-rigged; a barkentine.
 Jackass deer Zool., the koba.
 Jackass hare, Jackass rabbit Zool.. See Jack rabbit, under 2d Jack, n.
 Jackass penguin Zool., any species of penguin of the genus Spheniscus, of which several are known.  One species (Spheniscus demersus) inhabits the islands near the Cape of Good Hope; another (Spheniscus Magellanicus) is found at the Falkland Islands. They make a noise like the braying of an ass; -- hence the name.
 Laughing jackass. Zool. See under Laughing.
 ◄ ►
 King·fish·er n. Zool. Any one of numerous species of birds constituting the family Alcedinidæ. Most of them feed upon fishes which they capture by diving and seizing them with the beak; others feed only upon reptiles, insects, etc. About one hundred and fifty species are known. They are found in nearly all parts of the world, but are particularly abundant in the East Indies.
 Note: ☞ The belted king-fisher of the United States (Ceryle alcyon) feeds upon fishes. It is slate-blue above, with a white belly and breast, and a broad white ring around the neck. A dark band crosses the breast. The common European species (Alcedo ispida), which is much smaller and brighter colored, is also a fisher. See Alcedo. The wood kingfishers (Halcyones), which inhabit forests, especially in Africa, feed largely upon insects, but also eat reptiles, snails, and small Crustacea, as well as fishes. The giant kingfisher of Australia feeds largely upon lizards and insects. See Laughing jackass, under Laughing.
 ◄ ►
 Laugh·ing a. & n. from Laugh, v. i.
 Laughing falcon Zool., a South American hawk (Herpetotheres cachinnans); -- so called from its notes, which resemble a shrill laugh.
 Laughing gas Chem., nitrous oxide, also called hyponitrous oxide, or protoxide of nitrogen; -- so called from the exhilaration and laughing which it sometimes produces when inhaled.  It has been much used as an anaesthetic agent, though now its use is primarily in dentistry
 Laughing goose Zool., the European white-fronted goose.
 Laughing gull. Zool. (a) A common European gull (Xema ridibundus); -- called also pewit, black cap, red-legged gull, and sea crow. (b) An American gull (Larus atricilla). In summer the head is nearly black, the back slate color, and the five outer primaries black.
 Laughing hyena Zool., the spotted hyena. See Hyena.
 Laughing jackass Zool., the great brown kingfisher (Dacelo gigas), of Australia; -- called also giant kingfisher, and gogobera.
 Laughing owl Zool., a peculiar owl (Sceloglaux albifacies) of New Zealand, said to be on the verge of extinction. The name alludes to its notes.
 ◄ ►
 laughing jackass
      n 1: Australian kingfisher having a loud cackling cry [syn: kookaburra,
            Dacelo gigas]
      2: almost extinct owl of New Zealand [syn: laughing owl, Sceloglaux
         albifacies]