lapwing
Americannoun
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a large Old World plover, Vanellus vanellus, having a long, slender, upcurved crest, an erratic, flapping flight, and a shrill cry.
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any of several similar, related plovers.
noun
Etymology
Origin of lapwing
before 1050; Middle English, variant (by association with wing ) of lapwinke, Old English hlēapwince plover. See leap, wink 1
Vocabulary lists containing lapwing
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.
Minks also prey on ground-nesting birds such as snipe, lapwing and waterfowl, as well as kingfishers and sand martins.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
Birdwatcher Tim Dean said he felt "privileged" to see the lapwing on Monday.
From BBC ● May 2, 2023
It has the highest breeding densities of northern lapwing and redshank in the world.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 6, 2020
Amongst the first class are capercailzie, … wild duck, and bittern; and amongst the shy ones with camouflaged eggs are lapwing, … ring plover, and golden plover.
From Nature ● Aug. 5, 2019
The call of the curlew seemed more mournful, the crying of lapwing rose from the meadow land, and she started at a hollow hoot as an owl swept by on muffled wing.
From Thurston of Orchard Valley by W. Herbert Dunton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
