curlew

curlew
curlew (n.) mid-14c., from O.Fr. courlieu (13c., Mod.Fr. courlis), said to be imitative of the bird's cry but apparently assimilated with corliu "runner, messenger," from corre "to run" (see CURRENT (Cf. current) (adj.)). The bird is a good runner.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Curlew — Cur lew (k[^u]r l[=u]), n. [F. courlieu, corlieu, courlis; perh. of imitative origin, but cf. OF. corlieus courier; L. currere to run + levis light.] (Zo[ o]l.) A wading bird of the genus {Numenius}, remarkable for its long, slender, curved bill …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Curlew — ist der Name mehrerer Orte in den Vereinigten Staaten: Curlew (Florida) Curlew (Iowa) Curlew (Kalifornien) Curlew (Kentucky) Curlew (Washington) Curlew Junction (Utah) Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrere …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Curlew — Curlew, IA U.S. city in Iowa Population (2000): 62 Housing Units (2000): 36 Land area (2000): 0.758220 sq. miles (1.963780 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.758220 sq. miles (1.963780 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Curlew, IA — U.S. city in Iowa Population (2000): 62 Housing Units (2000): 36 Land area (2000): 0.758220 sq. miles (1.963780 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.758220 sq. miles (1.963780 sq. km) FIPS code:… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • curlew — [kʉr′lo͞o΄, kʉrl′yo͞o΄] n. pl. curlews or curlew [ME curleu < OFr corlieu, of echoic orig., but infl. by assoc. with corlieu, messenger, courier] any of a genus (Numenius, family Scolopacidae) of large, brownish shorebirds with long legs and a …   English World dictionary

  • curlew — ► NOUN (pl. same or curlews) ▪ a large wading bird with a long downcurved bill and brown streaked plumage. ORIGIN Old French courlieu, derived from the sound of the bird s call …   English terms dictionary

  • curlew — /kerr looh/, n. 1. any of several shorebirds of the genus Numenius, having a long, slender, downcurved bill, as the common N. arquata, of Europe. 2. any of various similar birds. [1300 50; ME < AF curleu, c. MF corleu; perh. imit.] * * * Any of… …   Universalium

  • Curlew — For other uses, see Curlew (disambiguation). For other uses of Numenius , see Numenius. Curlews Long billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) Fishing Pier, Goose Island State Park, Texas …   Wikipedia

  • curlew — UK [ˈkɜː(r)ljuː] / US [ˈkɜrˌlu] noun [countable] Word forms curlew : singular curlew plural curlews a brown bird that lives near water and has long legs and a long thin curved beak …   English dictionary

  • curlew — noun (plural curlews or curlew) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo French curleu, of imitative origin Date: 14th century any of various largely brownish chiefly migratory birds (especially genus Numenius) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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