numenius arquatus

1 definition found

numenius arquatus - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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.] (Zool.)
     A wading bird of the genus Numenius, remarkable for its
     long, slender, curved bill.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The common European curlew is Numenius arquatus. The
           long-billed (Numenius longirostris), the Hudsonian
           (Numenius Hudsonicus), and the Eskimo curlew
           (Numenius borealis, are American species. The name is
           said to imitate the note of the European species.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     Curlew Jack (Zool.) the whimbrel or lesser curlew.
  
     Curlew sandpiper (Zool.), a sandpiper (Tringa ferruginea
        or Tringa subarquata), common in Europe, rare in
        America, resembling a curlew in having a long, curved
        bill. See Illustation in Appendix.
        [1913 Webster]