Stiltbird

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Stiltbird \Stilt"bird`\, n. (Zool.)
     See {Stilt}, n., 3.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  stiltbird
       n : long-legged three-toed black-and-white wading bird of inland
           ponds and marshes or brackish lagoons [syn: {stilt}, {longlegs},
            {long-legs}, {stilt plover}, {Himantopus stilt}]