Definitions for: Curlew


[n] large migratory shorebirds of the sandpiper family; closely related to woodcocks but having a down-curved bill



Webster (1913) Definition: Cur"lew (k[^u]r"l[=u]), n. [F. courlieu, corlieu,
courlis; perh. of imitative origin, but cf. OF. corlieus
courier; L. currere to run + levis light.] (Zo["o]l.)
A wading bird of the genus Numenius, remarkable for its
long, slender, curved bill.

Note: The common European curlew is N. arquatus. The
long-billed (N. longirostris), the Hudsonian ({N.
Hudsonicus}), and the Eskimo curlew (N. borealis, are
American species. The name is said to imitate the note
of the European species.

Curlew Jack (Zo["o]l.) the whimbrel or lesser curlew.

Curlew sandpiper (Zo["o]l.), a sandpiper ({Tringa
ferruginea, or subarquata}), common in Europe, rare in
America, resembling a curlew in having a long, curved
bill. See Illustation in Appendix.

See Also: Eskimo curlew, European curlew, genus Numenius, limicoline bird, Numenius, Numenius arquata, Numenius borealis, shore bird, shorebird

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