redshank
redshank Lexical Profile
redshank Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A common Eurasian wading bird of the sandpiper family (Tringa totanus), noted for its distinctively bright orange-red legs and the reddish base of its bill.
"The birdwatchers spotted a solitary redshank probing the tidal mudflats for small invertebrates."
Scottish A historical nickname for a Scottish Highlander or Irish mercenary, particularly in the 16th century, referring to their bare legs resulting from wearing kilts.
"English chroniclers of the sixteenth century frequently referred to the Gaelic mercenaries employed in Ireland as redshanks."
Word Origin & Etymology
From the compounding of 'red' and 'shank' (meaning leg). The word was coined in the 1520s in reference to the wading bird's characteristically bright red legs. It was also historically used in the 16th century as a nickname for Scottish Highlanders and Irish mercenaries, alluding to their bare legs.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.