greenshankn.
/ˈɡriːnʃaŋk/, U.S. /ˈɡrinˌʃæŋk/ A large migratory sandpiper, Tringa nebularia, which has greenish legs and breeds in subarctic areas of Eurasia. Cf. redshank n. 1.
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the world > animals > birds > order Charadriiformes > family Scolopacidae (snipes, etc.) > [noun] > member of genus Tringa > tringa nebularia (greenshank)
greater plover1678
greenshank1766
chevalier1885
1766 T. Pennant Brit. Zool. ii. 121 The green Shank..Limosa, et glottis.
1863 Spring Lapl. 351 Perhaps one of the commonest of our waders here was the greenshank.
1890 C. Lumholtz Among Cannibals 56 At Thompson I found an old acquaintance from Europe, the greenshank.
1910 A. Chapman & W. J. Buck Unexplored Spain xxxix. 390 Whimbrels had been extremely abundant early in May, together with a few greenshanks, ring-dotterel, and green sandpiper.
1940 J. Buchan Memory Hold-the-Door App. 304 One notable day in Sutherland I added a greenshank to my list.
1999 Birdwatch Apr. 39/3 The marshy area..attracts passage waders such as Greenshank and has even held Purple Sandpiper.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1766