godwit

Meaning

Noun

• Any of four species of long-billed, migratory wading birds in the genus Limosa, of the family Scolopacidae.

Related

Similar words

• yarwhelp , yarwip

Origin

• Origin unknown. Completely unattested in Middle English or Old English, but apparently representing Old English *gōdwiht, equivalent to good + wight. (However, according to the OED, Third Edition, June 2014, "Probably originally imitative of the bird's call.")