stone curlew
noun
Definition of stone curlew
1 : a large-headed and large-eyed bird of the family Burhinidae that is somewhat nocturnal, frequents both open heaths and rocky shores, is widely distributed in the Old World and tropical America, and in some areas is highly regarded as a game bird —called also thick-knee
2 dialectal, England : common curlew
3 South : willet
Explore Merriam-Webster
There's more!
Love words? You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.
Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:
- More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
- Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
- Advanced search features
- Ad free!
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up stone curlew? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!