lapwing

lapwing
/lap"wing'/, n.
1. a large Old World plover, Vanellus vanellus, having a long, slender, upcurved crest, an erratic, flapping flight, and a shrill cry.
2. any of several similar, related plovers.
[bef. 1050; ME, var. (by assoc. with WING) of lapwinke, OE hleapwince plover. See LEAP, WINK]

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Any of numerous bird species of the plover family (Charadriidae), especially the Eurasian lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) of farmlands and grassy plains.

Lapwings are about 12 in. (30 cm) long and have broad, rounded wings. Several species have crests, and some have wing spurs (sharp projections at the bend of the wing). The Eurasian lapwing is green-glossed black above with white cheeks, black throat and breast, white belly, and white tail with a black band. About 24 other species are found in South America, Africa, southern Asia, Malaya, and Australia.

Eurasian lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

Ingmar Holmasen

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bird
 any of numerous species of birds of the plover family, Charadriidae (order Charadriiformes), especially the Eurasian lapwing, Vanellus vanellus, of farmlands and grassy plains. The name lapwing, which refers to the birds' slow wingbeat, is sometimes applied broadly to members of the subfamily Vanellinae. Lapwings are about 30 cm (12 inches) long, with broad, rounded wings. Several species have crests, and some have wing spurs (sharp projections at the bend of the wing for use in fighting).

      The Eurasian lapwing is green-glossed black above with white cheeks. The throat and breast are black, the belly is white, and the tail is white with a black band. This species has a notable crest. It breeds in Britain, in much of Europe, and across temperate Asia to eastern China. Some northern birds go south in winter, particularly to northern Africa. The brownish, black-marked eggs of this species are the plover eggs of commerce.

      There are about 24 other species of lapwings in South America, Africa, southern Asia, Malaya, and Australia. The crowned lapwing (Stephanibyx coronatus), of Africa, has a black cap with a white ring around it. The red-wattled lapwing, Vanellus (sometimes Lobivanellus) indicus, and the yellow-wattled lapwing (V. malabaricus), of southern Asia, have wattles on the face. Others are the gray-headed lapwing (Microsarcops cinereus), of eastern Asia, and the long-toed lapwing (Hemiparra crassirostris), of Africa.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Synonyms:
(Tringa vanellus or Vanellus cristatus)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Lapwing — Lap wing , n. [OE. lapwynke, leepwynke, AS. hle[ a]pewince; hle[ a]pan to leap, jump + (prob.) a word akin to AS. wincian to wink, E. wink, AS. wancol wavering; cf. G. wanken to stagger, waver. See {Leap}, and {Wink}.] (Zo[ o]l.) A small European …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • lapwing — M.E. lappewinke (late 14c.), lapwyngis (early 15c.), folk etymology alteration of O.E. hleapewince, probably lit. leaper winker, from hleapan to leap + wince totter, waver, move rapidly, related to wincian to wink. Said to be so called from the… …   Etymology dictionary

  • lapwing — ► NOUN ▪ a large crested plover with a dark green back, black and white head and underparts, and a loud call. ORIGIN Old English, from words meaning «to leap» and «move from side to side» (because of the way it flies) …   English terms dictionary

  • lapwing — [lap′wiŋ΄] n. [ME lapwinge, altered (by folk etym., by assoc. with lappe, LAP1 & wing, WING) < OE hleapewince < hleapan, to LEAP + wince < wincian (see WINK): prob. so called from its irregular flight] any of a genus (Vanellus) of black… …   English World dictionary

  • Lapwing — Taxobox name = Lapwings image width = 240px image caption = Blacksmith Lapwing ( Vanellus armatus ) regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves subclassis = Neornithes infraclassis = Neognathae superordo = Neoaves ordo = Charadriiformes… …   Wikipedia

  • lapwing — /ˈlæpwɪŋ/ (say lapwing) noun 1. Also, northern lapwing. a common wading bird, Vanellus vanellus, of Europe, northern Africa and parts of the Middle East, having green wings and a long crest. 2. any of various other birds of the genus Vanellus,… …  

  • lapwing — UK [ˈlæpˌwɪŋ] / US noun [countable] Word forms lapwing : singular lapwing plural lapwings a small European bird with dark feathers, a white breast, and raised feathers on its head. A lapwing is sometimes called a peewit …   English dictionary

  • lapwing — [OE] The present day form of the word lapwing is due to the notion that it describes the way the bird’s wings overlap in flight, but in fact although it did originally refer to the way the bird flies, it has no etymological connection with lap or …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • lapwing — [OE] The present day form of the word lapwing is due to the notion that it describes the way the bird’s wings overlap in flight, but in fact although it did originally refer to the way the bird flies, it has no etymological connection with lap or …   Word origins

  • lapwing — noun /ˈlæpwɪŋ/ a) Any of several medium sized wading birds belonging to the subfamily Vanellinae of the family Charadriidae. This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head. b) A silly man …   Wiktionary

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