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wheatear

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wheat·​ear | \ ˈ(h)wēt-ˌir How to pronounce wheatear (audio) \

Definition of wheatear

: any of various small thrushes (genus Oenanthe) especially : a white-rumped one (O. oenanthe) of northern North America and the Old World

Examples of wheatear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The bird of last week was undoubtedly a northern wheatear that spent the better part of late Tuesday afternoon actively foraging in a backyard near a marsh beside Water Street in Yarmouth. — BostonGlobe.com, 25 Sep. 2021 Why do wheatears and other migrating birds wait until night to fly? — Anchorage Daily News, 10 Aug. 2019 Northern wheatears are robin-size songbirds with tan bodies and handsome black eye bands. — Anchorage Daily News, 10 Aug. 2019 Another German scientist in 2010 studied the wheatears now staging in Wales. — Anchorage Daily News, 10 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wheatear.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of wheatear

1591, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for wheatear

back-formation from earlier wheatears wheatear, probably by folk etymology or euphemism from white + arse

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Time Traveler for wheatear

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The first known use of wheatear was in 1591

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Dictionary Entries Near wheatear

wheat duck

wheatear

wheatear cockle

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Cite this Entry

“Wheatear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wheatear. Accessed 23 May. 2022.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wheatear

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wheatear

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