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willet

[wil-it]
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noun, plural wil·lets, (especially collectively) wil·let.
  1. a large, eastern North American shorebird, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus, having a striking black and white wing pattern.
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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. 2018

Examples from the Web for willet

Historical Examples

  • Mr Willet looked at him, and saw it was Hugh; but he said nothing, and thought nothing.

    Barnaby Rudge

    Charles Dickens

  • Everybody looked at Mr Willet, after this alarming suggestion.

    Barnaby Rudge

    Charles Dickens

  • It has been reported that Mr Willet, previously to making answer, winked.

    Barnaby Rudge

    Charles Dickens

  • "She is gone, Doctor Willet," said the son, turning to greet the new-comer.

    Victor's Triumph

    Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth

  • Up, and Willet come home in the morning, and, God forgive me!

British Dictionary definitions for willet

willet

noun
  1. 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
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Word Origin

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