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Webster 1913 Edition
Woodcock
Wood′cockˊ
,Noun.
[AS.
wuducoc
.] 1.
(Zool.)
Any one of several species of long-billed limicoline birds belonging to the genera
Scolopax
and Philohela
. They are mostly nocturnal in their habits, and are highly esteemed as game birds. ☞ The most important species are the European (
Scolopax rusticola
) and the American woodcock (Philohela minor
), which agree very closely in appearance and habits. 2.
Fig.: A simpleton.
[Obs.]
If I loved you not, I would laugh at you, and see you
Run your neck into the noose, and cry, “A
Run your neck into the noose, and cry, “A
woodcock
!” Beau. & Fl.
Little woodcock
. (a)
The common American snipe.
(b)
The European snipe.
– Sea woodcock fish
, the bellows fish.
– Woodcock owl
, the short-eared owl (
– Asio brachyotus
). Woodcock shell
, the shell of certain mollusks of the genus
– Murex
, having a very long canal, with or without spines. Woodcock snipe
. See under
Snipe
.