† ˈpopeler Obs.
Also 4 popler, 5 popelere.
[Origin obscure: cf. poppel, OF. popelle; also f. med.L. popia spoon (Du Cange), popard.]
A water-bird, the spoon-bill.
| 1400 in Test. Ebor. (Surtees) I. 276 Aulam meam cum poplers textam, et lectum meum integrum cum costeris de rubeo cum poplers et armis meis broudatum. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 408/2 Popelere, byrd (or schovelerd, infra), populus. 1459 in Paston Lett. I. 479, ij. clothis portrayed full of popelers. Ibid. 483 Item, j. hangyng clothe of popelers. [1894 Newton Dict. Birds, Popeler, an old name for the Spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia. 1905 Westm. Gaz. 28 Oct. 3/2 The spoonbill, which still nests as near as Holland,..used to breed in the Eastern Counties, where it was known as the popeler.] |