killdeer

[ kil-deer ]

/ ˈkɪlˌdɪər /

an American plover, Charadrius vociferus, having two black bands around the upper breast.

Also called killdeer plover.

Origin of killdeer

An Americanism dating back to 1725–35; imitative

All along, the killdeer were darting about, calling loudly and piercingly.

Across the Continent by the Lincoln Highway |Effie Price Gladding
A killdeer sweeping the lake close two o'clock one morning awakened him.

The Harvester |Gene Stratton Porter
The Killdeer is so called on account of the cry which it utters; it resembles "kill-dee, kill-dee."

Endurance Test |Alan Douglas
The scout seized "Killdeer" in his left hand, and elevating it above his head, he shook it in triumph at his enemies.

The Last of the Mohicans |James Fenimore Cooper

The killdeer plovers are as noisy in the park as they are in an eastern pasture-field, and almost as plentiful.

Birds of the Rockies |Leander Sylvester Keyser

killdeer

/ (ˈkɪlˌdɪə) /

a large brown-and-white North American plover, Charadrius vociferus, with two black breast bands and a noisy cry

C18: of imitative origin