Jager \Ja"ger\, n. [G. j["a]ger a hunter, a sportsman. Cf. Yager.]

[Written also jaeger.]

1. (Mil.) A sharpshooter. See Yager.

2. (Zo["o]l.) Any species of gull of the genus Stercorarius. Three species occur on the Atlantic coast. The jagers pursue other species of gulls and force them to disgorge their prey. The two middle tail feathers are usually decidedly longer than the rest. Called also boatswain, and marline-spike bird. The name is also applied to the skua, or Arctic gull (Megalestris skua).

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Skua \Sku"a\, n. [Icel. sk?fr, sk?mr.]

(Zo["o]l.) Any jager gull; especially, the Megalestris skua; -- called also boatswain.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Tropic \Trop"ic\, a. Of or pertaining to the tropics; tropical.

Tropic bird (Zo["o]l.), any one of three species of oceanic belonging to the genus Pha["e]thon, found chiefly in tropical seas. They are mostly white, and have two central tail feathers very long and slender. The yellow-billed tropic bird. Pha["e]thon flavirostris (called also boatswain), is found on the Atlantic coast of America, and is common at the Bermudas, where it breeds.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Boatswain \Boat"swain\, n. [Boat + swain.]

1. (Naut.) An officer who has charge of the boats, sails, rigging, colors, anchors, cables, cordage, etc., of a ship, and who also summons the crew, and performs other duties.

2. (Zo["o]l.)
   (a) The jager gull.
   (b) The tropic bird.

Boatswain's mate, an assistant of the boatswain. --Totten.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)