killdeer

American  

[kil-deer] / ˈkɪlˌdɪər /

noun

1. an American plover, Charadrius vociferus, having two black bands around the upper breast.

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killdeer British  

/ ˈkɪlˌdɪə /

noun

1. a large brown-and-white North American plover, Charadrius vociferus, with two black breast bands and a noisy cry

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Etymology

Origin of killdeer

An Americanism dating back to 1725–35; imitative

Example Sentences

Killdeer aren’t the only birds changing their timing.

From Washington Post • May 17, 2022

The chairman of the tribal business council for Three Nations, Harleigh Killdeer, predicts that selling those rights would present long-awaited economic and political sovereignty for local tribes.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 21, 2020

She previously served as a school board member in Killdeer.

From Washington Times • Jan. 31, 2020

“I checked my guitar once,” she said, mentioning playing in a band called Killdeer.

From New York Times • Dec. 30, 2018

Nathan as a boy played football on his high school team in Killdeer, Mississippi, with great success evidently, and expected his winning season to continue ever after.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver