woodcock

[ wood-kok ]

noun

, plural wood·cocks, (especially collectively) wood·cock

1. either of two plump, short-legged migratory game birds of variegated brown plumage, the Eurasian Scolopax rusticola and the smaller American Philohela minor.
2. any of various pileated or ivory-billed woodpeckers.
3. Archaic. a simpleton.

woodcock

/ ˈwʊdˌkɒk /

noun

1. an Old World game bird, Scolopax rusticola, resembling the snipe but larger and having shorter legs and neck: family Scolopacidae (sandpipers, etc), order Charadriiformes
2. a related North American bird, Philohela minor
3. obsolete.
   a simpleton

Word History and Origins

Origin of woodcock¹

before 1050; Middle English wodecok, Old English wuducoc. See wood ¹, cock ¹

Example Sentences

As I headed back to my car, I passed a group of birders also searching for the woodcock.

From Outside Online

I was also struck by the range of food—he talks about eating tripe and woodcock.

From The Daily Beast

Little Brown,—feather from inside of Woodcock's wing, red copper coloured silk for body, and brown hackle for legs.

From Project Gutenberg

Inside of Woodcock's wing,—body orange coloured silk neatly ribbed,—hackle from a grouse for legs.

From Project Gutenberg

Small Willow Fly,—wings inside of Woodcock's wing feather,—body mole's fur and yellow silk,—brown hackle for legs.

From Project Gutenberg

Fry the trail of the woodcock or snipe in a little butter, and place on little rounds of fried bread and arrange round the dish.

From Project Gutenberg

Fillet a brace of woodcock, soak them in salad oil seasoned with black pepper, some cloves, and a pounded head of garlic.

From Project Gutenberg