† clot-bird Obs.
[f. clot, clod + bird n.]
A species of bird frequenting fallow-land; the Wheatear (Saxicola œnanthe); called also Arling, Clodhopper, and Fallow-smiter. (Erroneously applied by some to the Hawfinch, Coccothraustes vulgaris.)
| 1544 Turner Avium Hist. 44 κυανός, Cœruleo, a clotburd, a smatche, an arlyng, a steinchek. 1580 Baret Alv. C 680 Clotbirde, a birde that appeareth not in winter; a smatch; an arling, cœruleo. 1618 Latham 2nd Bk. Falconry (1633) 144 The Clot bird in the fallow fields..is a very fat and a dainty bird much like vnto the Martine. 1655 Moufet & Benn. Health's Impr. (1746) 185 Coccothraustes..The Clot⁓bird, called sometimes a Smatch, or an Arling, is as big almost as a Thrush, feeding chiefly upon Cherries, and Cherry-kernels. 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp., Clot-bird..a name by which the common œnanthe is called in many parts of England. |