godwit

Any of four species of long-billed migratory wading birds in the genus Limosa, of the family Scolopacidae.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɡɑd.wɪt/

Etymology

Inherited from Old English: *gōdwiht

In summary

Origin unknown. A surface analysis would suggest Old English *gōdwiht as the term's ultimate origin, corresponding to good + wight (“creature”), but the term is attested only since late Middle English. The Oxford English Dictionary considers the term to probably have originally been imitative of the bird's call.

Synonyms

barge

flatboat

flat-bottomed boat

lighter