curlew
pronunciation
How to pronounce curlew in British English:
UK [ˈkɜːljuː]
How to pronounce curlew in American English:
US [ ˈkɜːrluː]
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- Noun:
- large migratory shorebirds of the sandpiper family; closely related to woodcocks but having a down-curved bill
Word Origin
- curlew
- curlew: [14] The name of the curlew was no doubt originally inspired by its haunting flutelike call, but it has been speculated that other forces have been at work too. The word was borrowed from Old French courlieu, which bears more than a passing resemblance to Old French courliu ‘messenger’ (a compound formed from courre ‘run’ and lieu ‘place’, from Latin locus), and it seems quite possible that the latter may have influenced the formation of the former.
- curlew (n.)
- mid-14c., from Old French courlieu (13c., Modern French courlis), said to be imitative of the bird's cry but apparently assimilated with corliu "runner, messenger," from corre "to run" (see current (adj.)). The bird is a good runner.
Example
- 1. New world curlew that breeds in northern north america .
- 2. The tide rises , the tide falls , the twilight darkens , the curlew calls ; .
- 3. The climate in parts of the uk is expected to become more suitable for the stone curlew ( burhinus oedicnemus ) and its range is expected to expand , provided that appropriate habitat is available in those areas that become climatically suitable
- 4. The curlew prefers to work out of water .
- 5. Hooded crane and eurasian curlew found in yunnan .