What is "bilcock"

Rail \Rail\, n. [F. r[^a]le, fr. r[^a]ler to have a rattling in the throat; of German origin, and akin to E. rattle. See Rattle, v.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of limicoline birds of the family Rallid[ae], especially those of the genus Rallus, and of closely allied genera. They are prized as game birds.

Note: The common European water rail ( Rallus aquaticus) is called also bilcock, skitty coot, and brook runner. The best known American species are the clapper rail, or salt-marsh hen ( Rallus longirostris, var. crepitans); the king, or red-breasted, rail ( Rallus elegans) (called also fresh-water marshhen); the lesser clapper, or Virginia, rail ( Rallus Virginianus); and the Carolina, or sora, rail ( Porzana Carolina). See Sora.

Land rail (Zo["o]l.), the corncrake.

n. The European water rail.