curlew
UK[ˈkɜː.ljuː]US[ˈkɝː.luː]
n
A large, long-legged wading bird with a long, slender, down-curved bill, noted for its haunting, bubbling call.
Etymology
The word 'curlew' entered Middle English from the Anglo-Norman French 'courlieu'. This French term is believed to be onomatopoeic in origin, derived from the bird's evocative, fluting cry. The name, therefore, represents a classic example of sound symbolism, where the phonetic form of the word directly mimics a characteristic sound of the creature it denotes. This direct auditory link bypasses complex morphological structure, making the word a loanword adopted for its descriptive sound rather than its compositional parts.
Analysis
The word 'curlew' is a simplex word borrowed from Anglo-Norman French. Its ultimate origin is likely imitative of the bird's distinctive call.
Examples
The mournful cry of the curlew echoed across the desolate moorland.
Birdwatchers gathered at the estuary to spot the migrating Eurasian curlew.
Its long, curved bill allows the curlew to probe deep into mud for worms and crustaceans.