from
The 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]