dotterel
Americannoun
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any of several plovers usually inhabiting upland areas, especially Eudromias morinellus, of Europe and Asia.
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British Dialect. a silly, stupid person, especially one who is easily duped.
noun
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a rare Eurasian plover, Eudromias morinellus, with reddish-brown underparts and white bands around the head and neck
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any similar and related bird, esp of the genus Charadrius
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dialect a person who is foolish or easily duped
Etymology
Origin of dotterel
First recorded in 1400–50, dotterel is from the late Middle English word dotrelle. See dote, -rel
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.
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
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
This poor dotterel, Sir Arthur, is playing fast and loose with me.
From Anna St. Ives by Thomas Holcroft
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
In spring, "trips" of rare dotterel often led us about the higher hills for days, and sometimes we had to stay all night on the mountain.
From The Confessions of a Poacher by Anonymous
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
