† ˈarling Obs.
[OE. eorðling ‘agricola,’ f. eorðe earth. Cf. ‘clod-bird,’ and ‘fallow-smiter.’]
A species of bird; the Wheatear.
| c 1000 ælfric Gloss. in Wright Voc. 29/2 Tanticus, ærðling. Ibid. 281/1 Cucuzata, irþling..Birbiccariolus, irþling. a 1100 Ibid. 63/1 Birbicaliolus, eorðling. 1544 Turner Avium Hist. 44 κυανός, Cœruleo, a clotburd, a smatche, an arlyng, a steinchek. 1580 Baret Alv. A 544 Arling, a byrde that appeareth not in winter: a clotbyrde: a smatch. 1655 Mouffet & Benn. Health's Impr. (1746) 185 The..Arling is as big almost as a Thrush, feeding chiefly upon Cherries. 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp., Arlyng..a name by which the common œnanthe is called. |