Killdeer
/ˈkɪldɪɹ/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A North American plover (Charadrius vociferus) with a distinctive cry and territorial behavior that includes feigning injury to attract predators and spare the young in the nest.
"A kill-deer, flying so low as to dip its wings, ever and anon alighted on the margin, its stilt-like legs half submerged as it ran hither and thither, now and then bending to dig in the sand with its long slender bill."
- 2 American plover of inland waters and fields having a distinctive cry wordnet
Example
More examples"A kill-deer, flying so low as to dip its wings, ever and anon alighted on the margin, its stilt-like legs half submerged as it ran hither and thither, now and then bending to dig in the sand with its long slender bill."
Etymology
Imitative of the bird's call.