willet

[ wil-it ]

/ ˈwɪl ɪt /

noun, plural wil·lets, (especially collectively) wil·let.

a large, eastern North American shorebird, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus, having a striking black and white wing pattern.

Nearby words

willem i, willemite, willemstad, willendorf, willesden, willet, willey, willful, william, william and mary, william i

Origin of willet

1700–10, Americanism; short for pill-will-willet, conventional imitative of its cry

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

Examples from the Web for willet

Later in the day Robert returned with Willet and Tayoga and they had a reunion.
The Sun Of Quebec|Joseph A. Altsheler
Robert Lennox, Tayoga, Willet, and all the other important characters of the earlier romances reappear in the present book.
The Masters of the Peaks|Joseph A. Altsheler
Mr. Willet reflected for a few moments, and then muttered as it were mechanically: ‘Let us sing to the praise and glory of—’
Charles Dickens and Music|James T. Lightwood
It was Willet who suggested when they came to a slight dip that they make an effort to build a fire.
The Masters of the Peaks|Joseph A. Altsheler

"And find us on watch," said Willet, an exultant tone appearing in his voice.
The Sun Of Quebec|Joseph A. Altsheler

British Dictionary definitions for willet

willet

/ (ˈwɪlɪt) /

noun

a large American shore bird, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus, having a long stout bill, long legs, and a grey plumage with black-and-white wings: family Scolopacidae (sandpipers, etc), order Charadriiformes

Word Origin for willet

short for pill-will-willet imitation of its cry

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