curlew: [14] The name of the curlew was no doubt originally inspired by its haunting flutelike call, but it has been speculated that other forces have been at work too. The word was borrowed from Old French courlieu, which bears more than a passing resemblance to Old French courliu ‘messenger’ (a compound formed from courre ‘run’ and lieu ‘place’, from Latin locus), and it seems quite possible that the latter may have influenced the formation of the former.
curlew (n.)
mid-14c., from Old French courlieu (13c., Modern French courlis), said to be imitative of the bird's cry but apparently assimilated with corliu "runner, messenger," from corre "to run" (see current (adj.)). The bird is a good runner.
实用例句
1. Old World sandpiper with a curved bill like a curlew.
东半球矶鹬,嘴巴弯曲象麻鹬.
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2. New World curlew that breeds in northern North America.
在北美洲北部繁殖的新大陆杓鹬.
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3. He could hear the unearthly scream of some curlew piercing the din.
他可以听到一些杓鹬所发出的那种穿透喧嚣的诡异叫声.
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4. He could hear the unearthly scream of some curlew piercing the din ( Henry Kingsley ).
