woodcock
woodcock Lexical Profile
woodcock Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of several stocky, primarily nocturnal wading birds of the genus Scolopax, native to temperate and subarctic Eurasia and North America, characterized by highly camouflaged plumage and a long, straight bill used for probing the soil for earthworms.
"During the twilight hours of early spring, we sat quietly at the edge of the forest to observe the male woodcock perform its spiraling courtship flight."
The flesh of the woodcock prepared and consumed as food, traditionally considered a culinary delicacy in European and British game cuisine.
"The traditional recipe called for roasting the woodcock whole and serving it over a slice of toasted bread to catch the rich drippings."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'wodecok', derived from Old English 'wuducoc', a compound of 'wudu' (wood) and 'coc' (cock, bird).