lapwing

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Any of several medium-sized wading birds belonging to the subfamily Vanellinae, within family Charadriidae.

   A lapwing circled above its nest with a sharp cry.

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.

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