What is the origin of 'sleep tight'?
Read moreOne of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
1North American. The white-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi.
2More fully "whitewing dove". The white-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica, which is brownish-grey with a prominent white wing patch, and is found from the southern United States to Central America and the Caribbean.
Early 19th century. From white + wing. Compare earlier white-winged.