yellowlegs

noun

yel·​low·​legs ˈye-lō-ˌlegz How to pronounce yellowlegs (audio)
ˈye-lə-,
-ˌlāgz
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: either of two American shorebirds of the sandpiper family with yellow legs:

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1772, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of yellowlegs was circa 1772

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Yellowlegs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yellowlegs. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on yellowlegs

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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