lapwing

Meaning

1. Any of several medium-sized wading birds belonging to the subfamily Vanellinae, within family Charadriidae.
2. Any of several medium-sized wading birds belonging to the subfamily Vanellinae, within family Charadriidae.
3. (obsolete) A silly man.

Synonyms

peewit

green plover

pewit

Northern lapwing

northern lapwing

puny person

turnstone

sandpiper

Translations

vanneau

kievit

Kiebitz

Vanellus vanellus

avefría

pavoncella

vanneau huppé

abibe

vanneau armé

kieviet

quero-quero

Vanellus spp.

Vanellus

τσαλαπετεινός

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈlæpwɪŋ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: lapwynge

Inherited from Old English: hlēapewince

Cognate with Western Frisian: ljip

In summary

From Middle English lapwynge, lapwynke, lappewincke, lapwynche, lhapwynche, from Old English hlēapewince (“lapwing”), from Old English hlēapan (“to leap”) + wincian (“to wink, make a sign”), due to its manner of flight. Cognate with West Frisian ljip (“lapwing”).
The modern form is influenced by folk etymology to resemble English wing.