ˈearn-bleater, -bliter dial.
[Derivation unknown; this and OE. hæferblǽte, hæfenblǽte, name of some bird, ‘bicoca, bugium’, prov. Eng. hammerbleat snipe, may possibly be various corruptions of the same word.]
‘A Scotch name for the snipe.’ (Jamieson.)
| 1768 Ross Helenore 58 (Jam.) The earn-bleater or the muirfowl's craw, Was like to melt her very heart awa. |