n.
Pronunciation: ˌ pi-p ə - ' strel
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from Italian pipistrello bat, alteration of vipistrello, ultimately from Latin vespertilion-, vespertilio ― more at VESPERTILIAN
Date: 1781
: any of a genus ( Pipistrellus of the family Vespertilionidae) of bats typically appearing in early evening and exhibiting erratic flight especially : one ( P. pipistrellus ) of Eurasia and northern Africa