yellowlegs
yellowlegs Lexical Profile
yellowlegs Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A North American shorebird of the sandpiper family (genus Tringa), characterized by its mottled gray and white plumage, long bill, and distinctively long, bright yellow legs.
"The birdwatcher adjusted her binoculars to get a better look at the greater yellowlegs foraging in the shallow, muddy water."
American A historical nickname for a member of the United States cavalry, so named because of the distinct yellow stripe traditionally worn down the outer seam of their uniform trousers.
"During the frontier era, the sudden arrival of the yellowlegs signaled that the military had intervened in the local dispute."
Word Nuance & Usage
The noun 'yellowlegs' is morphologically plural but is used for both singular and plural referents; one correctly says 'a single yellowlegs' or 'a flock of yellowlegs'.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'yellow' and 'legs', first recorded in the mid-18th century. It originally referred directly to the bright yellow legs of the North American shorebird.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.