'Dotterel' definitions:
Definition of 'dotterel'
From: WordNet
noun
Rare plover of upland areas of Eurasia [syn: dotterel, dotrel, Charadrius morinellus, Eudromias morinellus]
Definition of 'Dotterel'
From: GCIDE
- Dotterel \Dot"ter*el\, a. [Cf. Dottard.] Decayed. "Some old dotterel trees." [Obs.] --Ascham. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Dotterel'
From: GCIDE
- Dotterel \Dot"ter*el\, n. [From Dote, v. i.]
- 1. (Zool.) A European bird of the Plover family ({Eudromias morinellus}, syn. Charadrius morinellus). It is tame and easily taken, and is popularly believed to imitate the movements of the fowler. [1913 Webster]
- In catching of dotterels we see how the foolish bird playeth the ape in gestures. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
- Note: The ringed dotterel (or ring plover) is {Charadrius hiaticula}. [1913 Webster]
- 2. A silly fellow; a dupe; a gull. --Barrow. [1913 Webster]