from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Sandpiper \Sand"pi`per\, n.
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small limicoline
game birds belonging to {Tringa}, {Actodromas},
{Ereunetes}, and various allied genera of the family
{Tringidae}.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The most important North American species are the
pectoral sandpiper ({Tringa maculata}), called also
{brownback}, {grass snipe}, and {jacksnipe}; the
red-backed, or black-breasted, sandpiper, or dunlin
({Tringa alpina}); the purple sandpiper ({Tringa
maritima}: the red-breasted sandpiper, or knot ({Tringa
canutus}); the semipalmated sandpiper ({Ereunetes
pusillus}); the spotted sandpiper, or teeter-tail
({Actitis macularia}); the buff-breasted sandpiper
({Tryngites subruficollis}), and the Bartramian
sandpiper, or upland plover. See under {Upland}. Among
the European species are the dunlin, the knot, the
ruff, the sanderling, and the common sandpiper
({Actitis hypoleucus} syn. {Tringoides hypoleucus}),
called also {fiddler}, {peeper}, {pleeps}, {weet-weet},
and {summer snipe}. Some of the small plovers and
tattlers are also called sandpipers.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Zool.) A small lamprey eel; the pride.
[1913 Webster]
{Curlew sandpiper}. See under {Curlew}.
{Stilt sandpiper}. See under {Stilt}.
[1913 Webster]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Stilt \Stilt\, n. [OE. stilte; akin to Dan. stylte, Sw. stylta,
LG. & D. stelt, OHG. stelza, G. stelze, and perh. to E.
stout.]
1. A pole, or piece of wood, constructed with a step or loop
to raise the foot above the ground in walking. It is
sometimes lashed to the leg, and sometimes prolonged
upward so as to be steadied by the hand or arm.
[1913 Webster]
Ambition is but avarice on stilts, and masked.
--Landor.
[1913 Webster]
2. A crutch; also, the handle of a plow. [Prov. Eng.]
--Halliwell.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Zool.) Any species of limicoline birds belonging to
{Himantopus} and allied genera, in which the legs are
remarkably long and slender. Called also {longshanks},
{stiltbird}, {stilt plover}, and {lawyer}.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The American species ({Himantopus Mexicanus}) is well
known. The European and Asiatic stilt ({Himantopus
candidus}) is usually white, except the wings and
interscapulars, which are greenish black. The
white-headed stilt ({Himantopus leucocephalus}) and the
banded stilt ({Cladorhynchus pectoralis}) are found in
Australia.
[1913 Webster]
{Stilt plover} (Zool.), the stilt.
{Stilt sandpiper} (Zool.), an American sandpiper
({Micropalama himantopus}) having long legs. The bill is
somewhat expanded at the tip.
[1913 Webster]