willet

noun

wil·​let ˈwi-lət How to pronounce willet (audio)
plural willets also willet
: a large American shorebird (Tringa semipalmata) of the sandpiper family that resembles the greater yellowlegs but has a thicker bill and gray legs and that displays a black-and-white wing pattern when in flight

Examples of willet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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During a hike through Robinsons Island, visitors can spot boreal chickadees, red crossbills and yellow warblers flitting along the branches, while the refuge’s many beaches are perfect for spotting shorebirds like the willet and greater yellowlegs. — Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025 Shorebirds began their journeys early and travel fast, many of them after a short breeding season in the far, far north, so birds like sandpipers, yellowlegs, willets, godwits and curlews are already present in abundant numbers. — Jack Gedney, The Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

imitative

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of willet was in 1791

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“Willet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/willet. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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