Synonyms

curlew

American

[kur-loo] / ˈkɜr lu /

noun

any of several shorebirds of the genus Numenius, having a long, slender, downcurved bill, as the common N. arquata, of Europe.
any of various similar birds.

curlew British

/ ˈkɜːljuː /

noun

any large shore bird of the genus Numenius, such as N. arquata of Europe and Asia: family Scolopacidae (sandpipers, etc), order Charadriiformes. They have a long downward-curving bill and occur in northern and arctic regions Compare stone curlew

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of curlew

1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French curleu, cognate with Middle French corleu; perhaps imitative

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

curlew

Natural England licensed the sites to receive and rear curlew eggs.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Elmley curlew keeper Simon Higgs said the ground-nesting birds' decline was mainly been due to changing farming practices and an increase in predators.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Earlier this year curlew eggs were saved by firefighters during a "significant wildfire" in County Fermanagh as their nest was directly in the fire's path and close to being lost in the blaze.

From BBC ● May 31, 2026

It sees vulnerable curlew nests taken from the wild and artificially incubated.

From BBC ● May 31, 2026

We sat quietly, the only sounds the occasional cry of the curlew and Lottie’s contented nursing.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023