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lapwing

American  
[lap-wing] / ˈlæpˌwɪŋ /

noun

  1. a large Old World plover, Vanellus vanellus, having a long, slender, upcurved crest, an erratic, flapping flight, and a shrill cry.

  2. any of several similar, related plovers.


lapwing British  
/ ˈlæpˌwɪŋ /

noun

  1. Also called: green plover.   pewit.   peewit.  any of several plovers of the genus Vanellus, esp V. vanellus, typically having a crested head, wattles, and spurs

"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 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.

See Examples For:

A major part of the scheme has been to "re-naturalise" the River Sherford, creating a wetland which now hosts lapwing, golden plover and common snipe.

From BBC Sep. 19, 2023

Birdwatcher Tim Dean said he felt "privileged" to see the lapwing on Monday.

From BBC May 2, 2023

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

In Finland, for example, the Northern lapwing and Eurasian curlew have usually built their ground nests on barley fields after farmers have sown their crops in the spring.

From New York Times Apr. 4, 2018

This bird was as proverbially used for a proud, vain fool as the lapwing for a silly one.

From Folk-lore of Shakespeare by Thomas Firminger Thiselton-Dyer

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