dotterel

3 definitions found

dotterel - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Dotterel \Dot"ter*el\, a. [Cf. Dottard.]
     Decayed. "Some old dotterel trees." [Obs.] --Ascham.
     [1913 Webster]

  Dotterel \Dot"ter*el\, n. [From Dote, v. i.]
     1. (Zool.) A European bird of the Plover family (Eudromias  morinellus
        , syn. Charadrius morinellus). It is tame and
        easily taken, and is popularly believed to imitate the
        movements of the fowler.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              In catching of dotterels we see how the foolish bird
              playeth the ape in gestures.          --Bacon.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The ringed dotterel (or ring plover) is Charadrius hiaticula
           .
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A silly fellow; a dupe; a gull. --Barrow.
        [1913 Webster]

dotterel - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  dotterel
      n 1: rare plover of upland areas of Eurasia [syn: dotterel,
           dotrel, Charadrius morinellus, Eudromias morinellus]