Curlew \Cur"lew\ (k[^u]r"l[=u]), n. [F. courlieu, corlieu,
   courlis; perh. of imitative origin, but cf. OF. corlieus
   courier; L. currere to run + levis light.] (Zool.)
   A wading bird of the genus {Numenius}, remarkable for its
   long, slender, curved bill.
   
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   Note: The common European curlew is {Numenius arquatus}. The
         long-billed ({Numenius longirostris}), the Hudsonian
         ({Numenius Hudsonicus}), and the Eskimo curlew
         ({Numenius borealis}, are American species. The name is
         said to imitate the note of the European species.
         
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   {Curlew Jack} (Zool.) the whimbrel or lesser curlew.

   {Curlew sandpiper} (Zool.), a sandpiper ({Tringa ferruginea}
      or {Tringa subarquata}), common in Europe, rare in
      America, resembling a curlew in having a long, curved
      bill. See Illustation in Appendix.
      
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