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wheatear

noun
wheat·​ear | \ ˈhwēt-ˌir How to pronounce wheatear (audio) , ˈwēt-\

Definition of wheatear

: any of various small thrushes (genus Oenanthe) especially : a white-rumped one (O. oenanthe) of northern North America and the Old World

Examples of wheatear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Northern wheatears are robin-size songbirds with tan bodies and handsome black eye bands. — Anchorage Daily News, "Alaska’s northern wheatears are about to embark on a remarkable journey," 10 Aug. 2019 Another German scientist in 2010 studied the wheatears now staging in Wales. — Anchorage Daily News, "Alaska’s northern wheatears are about to embark on a remarkable journey," 10 Aug. 2019

First Known Use of wheatear

1591, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for wheatear

back-formation from earlier wheatears wheatear, probably by folk etymology or euphemism from white + arse

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