willet

willet (WIL-it) - n., a large grayish sandpiper of eastern North America (Tringa semipalmata) with a striking black and white pattern on its wings that show in flight.


Another bird formerly hunted, and has had its population rebound. A close relative of the shanks (speaking of a great name for a wading bird). The name, in use since the early 18th century, is imitative of its cry, conventionally rendered as pill-will-willet.

---L.