Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

wheatear

noun
wheat·​ear | \ ˈhwēt-ˌir How to pronounce wheatear (audio) , ˈwēt-\

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

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about wheatear

Statistics for wheatear

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for wheatear

The first known use of wheatear was in 1591

See more words from the same year

More from Merriam-Webster on wheatear

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with wheatear

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wheatear

Comments on wheatear

What made you want to look up wheatear? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

propitious

Listen to the pronounciation of propitious

likely to have or produce good results

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words from Greek and Latin Quiz

  • roman forum
  • Which of the following months comes from a Latin word for “ten”?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games