stone curlew

noun

1. thick-knee.

stone curlew

noun

1. any of several brownish shore birds of the family Burhinidae, esp Burhinus oedicnemus, having a large head and eyes: order Charadriiformes Also calledthick-knee

Word History and Origins

Origin of stone curlew¹

First recorded in 1670–80

Word History and Origins

Origin of stone curlew¹

C17: so called because it is found in stony habitats and resembles a curlew

Example Sentences

The willet, or stone curlew as it is sometimes called, is a resident species, breeding from Washington to Mexico.

From Project Gutenberg

Willet, wil′et, n. a North American bird of the snipe family, belonging to the tattler group—also Stone-curlew.

From Project Gutenberg

Dear Sir,—The history of the stone-curlew, Charadrius œdicnemus, is as follows.

From Project Gutenberg

The Stone Curlew seems to be fully alive to the fact that the safest hiding-place is often the most conspicuous and open one.

From Project Gutenberg

It struck him suddenly that Miss Latimer herself looked like a stone-curlew.

From Project Gutenberg