dotterel

American  

[dot-er-uhl] / ˈdɒt ər əl /

Also dottrel

noun

1. any of several plovers usually inhabiting upland areas, especially Eudromias morinellus, of Europe and Asia.

2. British Dialect. a silly, stupid person, especially one who is easily duped.

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dotterel British  

/ ˈdɒtrəl /

noun

1. a rare Eurasian plover, Eudromias morinellus, with reddish-brown underparts and white bands around the head and neck

2. any similar and related bird, esp of the genus Charadrius

3. dialect a person who is foolish or easily duped

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Etymology

Origin of dotterel

First recorded in 1400–50, dotterel is from the late Middle English word dotrelle. See dote, -rel

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dotterel

Scotland is home to Arctic specialists - birds like dotterel, snow bunting and ptarmigan - which are found high on Scotland's mountains.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2022

It has even been put forward that the colours of their eggs are intended to deceive; and those of the dotterel, laid on the open beach, are often mentioned as an instance.

From Field and Hedgerow Being the Last Essays of Richard Jefferies by Richard Jefferies

As we pursued our journey homewards on the following day, we passed several flights of dotterel making to the south, this being the first migration we had observed in that direction.

From Expedition into Central Australia by Charles Sturt

Last night we had dotterel and sandpipers for dinner, this morning greenshanks, which are very good birds indeed.

From Three in Norway by Two of Them by Walter J. Clutterbuck

Other names of birds not quite so common used to describe stupid people are dotterel and dodo.

From Stories That Words Tell Us by Elizabeth (Elizabeth Speakman) O'Neill

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