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willet

[ wil-it ]

noun

, plural wil·lets, (especially collectively) wil·let.
  1. a large, eastern North American shorebird, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus, having a striking black and white wing pattern.


willet

/ ˈwɪlɪt /

noun

  1. a large American shore bird, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus, having a long stout bill, long legs, and a grey plumage with black-and-white wings: family Scolopacidae (sandpipers, etc), order Charadriiformes


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Word History and Origins

Origin of willet1

1700–10, Americanism; short for pill-will-willet, conventional imitative of its cry

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Word History and Origins

Origin of willet1

short for pill-will-willet imitation of its cry

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Example Sentences

We revelled in its resemblance, or its fancied resemblance to the famous old hostelry kept by old John Willet.

The willet, or stone curlew as it is sometimes called, is a resident species, breeding from Washington to Mexico.

Grandmamma would hardly let me pick up my kerchief, if I dropped it; I had to call Willet, her woman, to give it to me.

He had a twin brother, Willet, but he died when he was only five months old.

Ridge and Pitt and Willet streets were quite steep and made splendid coasting places in winter.

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