avocet, -set
(ˈævəʊˌsɛt)
Also 7–8 avosetta, 9 avocetta.
[a. F. avocette, ad. It. avosetta.]
One of the Wading birds (Grallatores), allied to the Snipes and Stilts, specially distinguished by its flexible upturned beak.
| [1674 Ray Water Fowl 94 Avosetta Italorum: Recurvirostra.] 1766 Pennant Brit. Zool. (1812) II. 143 An Avoset that we shot weighed thirteen ounces. 1771 ― Tour. Scotl. (1790) 13 Numbers of Avosettas, called there yelpers from their cry. 1863 Sat. Rev. 284 Drainage has banished the avoset..and the godwit from our eastern marshes. 1881 M. Watkins in Academy 27 Aug. 163/2, 1840 was the last year in which the avocet is known to have bred in England. |