Curlew

Curlew
Curlew Cur"lew (k[^u]r"l[=u]), n. [F. courlieu, corlieu, courlis; perh. of imitative origin, but cf. OF. corlieus courier; L. currere to run + levis light.] (Zo["o]l.) A wading bird of the genus {Numenius}, remarkable for its long, slender, curved bill. [1913 Webster]

Note: The common European curlew is {Numenius arquatus}. The long-billed ({Numenius longirostris}), the Hudsonian ({Numenius Hudsonicus}), and the Eskimo curlew ({Numenius borealis}, are American species. The name is said to imitate the note of the European species. [1913 Webster]

{Curlew Jack} (Zo["o]l.) the whimbrel or lesser curlew.

{Curlew sandpiper} (Zo["o]l.), a sandpiper ({Tringa ferruginea} or {Tringa subarquata}), common in Europe, rare in America, resembling a curlew in having a long, curved bill. See Illustation in Appendix. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Curlew — ist der Name mehrerer Orte in den Vereinigten Staaten: Curlew (Florida) Curlew (Iowa) Curlew (Kalifornien) Curlew (Kentucky) Curlew (Washington) Curlew Junction (Utah) Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrere …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Curlew — Curlew, IA U.S. city in Iowa Population (2000): 62 Housing Units (2000): 36 Land area (2000): 0.758220 sq. miles (1.963780 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.758220 sq. miles (1.963780 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Curlew, IA — U.S. city in Iowa Population (2000): 62 Housing Units (2000): 36 Land area (2000): 0.758220 sq. miles (1.963780 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.758220 sq. miles (1.963780 sq. km) FIPS code:… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • curlew — [kʉr′lo͞o΄, kʉrl′yo͞o΄] n. pl. curlews or curlew [ME curleu < OFr corlieu, of echoic orig., but infl. by assoc. with corlieu, messenger, courier] any of a genus (Numenius, family Scolopacidae) of large, brownish shorebirds with long legs and a …   English World dictionary

  • curlew — (n.) mid 14c., from O.Fr. courlieu (13c., Mod.Fr. courlis), said to be imitative of the bird s cry but apparently assimilated with corliu runner, messenger, from corre to run (see CURRENT (Cf. current) (adj.)). The bird is a good runner …   Etymology dictionary

  • curlew — ► NOUN (pl. same or curlews) ▪ a large wading bird with a long downcurved bill and brown streaked plumage. ORIGIN Old French courlieu, derived from the sound of the bird s call …   English terms dictionary

  • curlew — /kerr looh/, n. 1. any of several shorebirds of the genus Numenius, having a long, slender, downcurved bill, as the common N. arquata, of Europe. 2. any of various similar birds. [1300 50; ME < AF curleu, c. MF corleu; perh. imit.] * * * Any of… …   Universalium

  • Curlew — For other uses, see Curlew (disambiguation). For other uses of Numenius , see Numenius. Curlews Long billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) Fishing Pier, Goose Island State Park, Texas …   Wikipedia

  • curlew — UK [ˈkɜː(r)ljuː] / US [ˈkɜrˌlu] noun [countable] Word forms curlew : singular curlew plural curlews a brown bird that lives near water and has long legs and a long thin curved beak …   English dictionary

  • curlew — noun (plural curlews or curlew) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo French curleu, of imitative origin Date: 14th century any of various largely brownish chiefly migratory birds (especially genus Numenius) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”