gray plover

Plover Plov"er, n. [OF. plovier, F. pluvier, prop., the rain bird, fr. LL. (assumed) pluviarius, fr. L. pluvia rain, from pluere to rain; akin to E. float, G. fliessen to flow. See {Float}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of limicoline birds belonging to the family {Charadrid[ae]}, and especially those belonging to the subfamily {Charadrins[ae]}. They are prized as game birds. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]l.) Any grallatorial bird allied to, or resembling, the true plovers, as the crab plover ({Dromas ardeola}); the American upland, plover ({Bartramia longicauda}); and other species of sandpipers. [1913 Webster]

Note: Among the more important species are the {blackbellied plover} or {blackbreasted plover} ({Charadrius squatarola}) of America and Europe; -- called also {gray plover}, {bull-head plover}, {Swiss plover}, {sea plover}, and {oxeye}; the {golden plover} (see under {Golden}); the {ring plover} or {ringed plover} ({[AE]gialitis hiaticula}). See {Ringneck}. The {piping plover} ({[AE]gialitis meloda}); {Wilson's plover} ({[AE]gialitis Wilsonia}); the {mountain plover} ({[AE]gialitis montana}); and the {semipalmated plover} ({[AE]gialitis semipalmata}), are all small American species. [1913 Webster]

{Bastard plover} (Zo["o]l.), the lapwing.

{Long-legged plover}, or {yellow-legged plover}. See {Tattler}.

{Plover's page}, the dunlin. [Prov. Eng.]

{Rock plover}, or {Stone plover}, the black-bellied plover. [Prov. Eng.]

{Whistling plover}. (a) The golden plover. (b) The black-bellied plover. [1913 Webster]