phalarope

[ fal-uh-rohp ]

/ ˈfæl əˌroʊp /

noun

any of three species of small, aquatic birds of the family Phalaropodidae, resembling sandpipers but having lobate toes.

Nearby words

phalangist, phalansterian, phalansterianism, phalanstery, phalanx, phalarope, phalera, phalerae, phallectomy, phalli, phallic

Origin of phalarope

1770–80; < French < New Latin Phalaropus genus name < Greek phalār(ís) coot + -o- -o- + -pous -footed; see -pod

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for phalarope

Along the shores of Fond du Lac we descry a long-legged wader, the phalarope.
The New North|Agnes Deans Cameron
This phalarope is one of the most beautiful of all our shore birds, and is the most southerly distributed of the phalaropes.
Bird Guide|Chester A. Reed
Though not exactly web-footed, the phalarope swims with the greatest ease.
Love's Meinie|John Ruskin
The gyrfalcon can certainly not catch a phalarope in flight.
Life Histories of North American Shore Birds, Part 1 (of 2)|Arthur Cleveland Bent

It may thus be inferred that the pairing habits of this Phalarope are most singular, the female conducting the courtship!
British Sea Birds|Charles Dixon

British Dictionary definitions for phalarope

phalarope

/ (ˈfæləˌrəʊp) /

noun

any aquatic shore bird of the family Phalaropidae, such as Phalaropus fulicarius (grey phalarope), of northern oceans and lakes, having a long slender bill and lobed toes: order Charadriiformes

Word Origin for phalarope

C18: via French from New Latin Phalaropus, from Greek phalaris coot + pous foot

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