a. [ L. ludicrus, or ludicer, from ludus play, sport, fr. ludere to play. ]
A chapter upon German rhetoric would be in the same ludicrous predicament as Van Troil's chapter on the snakes of Iceland, which delivers its business in one summary sentence, announcing, that snakes in Iceland -- there are none. De Quincey.
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‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. L. palus, -udis, a marsh + colere to inhabit. ] (Zool.) A division of birds, including the cranes, rails, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ Cf. F. paludicole. ] (Zool.) Marsh-inhabiting; belonging to the Paludicolæ [ 1913 Webster ]