golden plover

noun

: any of four plovers (genus Pluvialis) having dark upperparts spotted with gold
especially : one (P. dominica) that breeds chiefly in arctic America and winters in South America

Examples of golden plover in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Like the golden plover, like the little wheatear, Winn and Moth push on, from the far north of the island all the way home. Laurie Hertzel, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2023 That bird — eventually identified as a golden plover — is a symbol of many things: resilience, perseverance, hope. Laurie Hertzel, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2023 Visitors can also expect to see a wide range of indigenous seafaring species including the Pacific golden plover (or kōlea) and the Laysan albatross (or mōlī). Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 26 May 2022 In October 2018, Malta, reacting to the June ruling, repealed its regulations for the autumn live-capturing of finches and allowed trapping only of golden plovers and song thrushes. Jacopo Benini, National Geographic, 10 May 2019 But following a new ruling by the European Court of Justice, only two species—the golden plover and the song thrush—can now be hunted legally in Malta. Jacopo Benini, National Geographic, 10 May 2019 Hello, golden plovers, and welcome back to another edition of This Week in Timothée Chalamet. Cady Drell, Marie Claire, 5 Oct. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of golden plover was in 1766

Dictionary Entries Near golden plover

Cite this Entry

“Golden plover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/golden%20plover. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on golden plover

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!