lapwing

Meaning

Noun

• Any of several medium-sized wading birds belonging to the subfamily Vanellinae, within family Charadriidae.
• A silly man.

Origin

• From Middle English lapwynge, lapwynke, lappewincke, lapwynche, lhapwynche, from Old English hlēapewince, from Old English hlēapan + wincian, due to its manner of flight. Cognate with West Frisian ljip.
• The modern form is influenced by folk etymology to resemble English wing.