Dotterel

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

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

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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]