What is "laughing jackass"

Jackass \Jack"ass`\, n. [2d jack + ass.]

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 (Zo["o]l.), the koba.

   Jackass hare, Jackass rabbit (Zo["o]l.). See Jack rabbit, under 2d Jack, n.

   Jackass penguin (Zo["o]l.), 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. (Zo["o]l.) See under Laughing.

Laughing \Laugh"ing\, a. & n. from Laugh, v. i. Laughing falcon (Zo["o]l.), a South American hawk ( Herpetotheres cachinnans); -- so called from its notes, which resemble a shrill laugh. Laughing gas (Chem.), hyponitrous oxide, or protoxide of nitrogen Laughing goose (Zo["o]l.), the European white-fronted goose. Laughing gull. (Zo["o]l.)

1. A common European gull ( Xema ridibundus); -- called also pewit, black cap, red-legged gull, and sea crow.

2. An American gull ( Larus atricilla). In summer the head is nearly black, the back slate color, and the five outer primaries black.

   Laughing hyena (Zo["o]l.), the spotted hyena. See Hyena.

   Laughing jackass (Zo["o]l.), the great brown kingfisher ( Dacelo gigas), of Australia; -- called also giant kingfisher, and gogobera.

   Laughing owl (Zo["o]l.), a peculiar owl ( Sceloglaux albifacies) of New Zealand, said to be on the verge of extinction. The name alludes to its notes.

n. The laughing kookaburra, ''Dacelo novaeguineae''.

1. n. Australian kingfisher having a loud cackling cry [syn: kookaburra, Dacelo gigas]

2. almost extinct owl of New Zealand [syn: laughing owl, Sceloglaux albifacies]