Dictionary
killdeer
noun kill·deer \ˈkil-ˌdir\
plural killdeers or killdeer
Definition of KILLDEER
: an American plover (Charadrius vociferus) characterized by two black breast bands and a plaintive penetrating cry
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Illustration of KILLDEER
Origin of KILLDEER
imitative
First Known Use: 1731
Rhymes with KILLDEER
adhere, Aesir, Ajmer, all clear, ambeer, appear, arrear, Asir, Ayrshire, besmear, by ear, Cape Fear, career, cashier, cashmere, Cheshire, chimere, clavier, cohere, compeer, destrier, dog-ear, emir, Empire, endear, ensphere, eyrir, Fafnir, footgear, frontier, gambier, Goodyear, headgear, inhere, Izmir, Kashmir, kefir, Landseer, leap year, life peer, light-year, man-year, menhir, midyear, mishear, monsieur, mouse-ear, mule deer, musk deer, nadir, near beer, New Year, off year, out-year, pickeer, portiere, premier, premiere, red deer, redear, rehear, reindeer, revere, revers, Robespierre, roe deer, root beer, santir, severe, Shakespeare, sincere, slick-ear, small beer, spruce beer, steer clear, Tangier, tapir, tin ear, uprear, Vanir, veneer, Vermeer, vizier, voir dire, wheatear, Wiltshire, wind shear, wood ear, worm gear, Ymir, Yorkshire, zaire, Zaire
KILLDEERS Defined for Kids
killdeer
noun kill·deer \ˈkil-ˌdir\
Definition of KILLDEER for Kids
: a grayish brown North American bird that has a high-pitched mournful call
Word History of KILLDEER
Killdeers are not vicious birds. They have no particular hatred for deer, but to some people the cry of these birds must have sounded like “Kill deer! Kill deer! Kill deer!” That is why the bird got its unusual name.
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