from Noah Webster's Dictionary of the English Language (1828)

Alligator, n.
The American crocodile. The largest of these animals grow to the
length of seventeen or eighteen feet. They live in and about the
rivers in warm climates, eat fish, and sometimes catch hogs, on the
shore, or dogs which are swimming. In winter, they burrow in the
earth, which they enter under water and work upwards, lying torpid
till spring.

Badger, n.
A quadruped of the genus Ursus, of a clumsy make, with short,
thick legs, and long claws on the fore feet. It inhabits the north of
Europe and Asia, burrows, is indolent and sleepy, feeds by night
on vegetables, and is very fat. Its skin is used for pistol furniture;
its flesh makes good bacon, and its hair is used for brushes to
soften the shades in painting. The American badger is called the
ground hog, and is sometimes white.

Tarantula, n.
A species of spider, the Aranea tarantula, so called, it is
said, from Tarentum in Apulia, where this animal is mostly found;
a venomous insect, whose bite gives name to a new disease, called
tarantismus. This is said to be cured by music.

Barnacle, n.
A species of goose, found in the northern seas, but visiting more
southern climates in winter. The forehead and cheeks are white,
but the upper part of the body and neck is black. Formerly, a
strange notion prevailed, that these birds grew out of wood, or
rather out of the barnacles attached to wood in the sea.

Nest, n.
Any place where irrational animals are produced.