curlew

Meaning

1. Any of several migratory wading birds in the genus Numenius, remarkable for their long, slender, downcurved bills.
2. (Australia) A stone curlew (Burhinidae spp.).

Synonyms

heron

whimbrel

Eurasian curlew

European curlew

Translations

courlis

Numenius arquata

wulp

zarapito

courlie

chiurlo

νουμήνιος

τουρλίδα

Numenius

polit

Brachvogel

chorlito

çulluk

becut

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkɜːlju/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: curlew

In summary

From Middle English curlew, from Old French courlieu (see French courlis), claimed to be imitative of the bird's cry but apparently assimilated with dialectal *corliu (“runner, messenger”), a variant of coureur (the bird is adept at running).