What is "pewit"

Pewee \Pe"wee\, n. [So called from its note.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) A common American tyrant flycatcher ( Sayornis ph[oe]be, or Sayornis fuscus). Called also pewit, and ph[oe]be.

2. The woodcock. [Local, U.S.]

   Wood pewee (Zo["o]l.), a bird ( Contopus virens) similar to the pewee (See Pewee, 1), but of smaller size.

Laughing \Laugh"ing\, a. & n. from Laugh, v. i. Laughing falcon (Zo["o]l.), a South American hawk ( Herpetotheres cachinnans); -- so called from its notes, which resemble a shrill laugh. Laughing gas (Chem.), hyponitrous oxide, or protoxide of nitrogen Laughing goose (Zo["o]l.), the European white-fronted goose. Laughing gull. (Zo["o]l.)

1. A common European gull ( Xema ridibundus); -- called also pewit, black cap, red-legged gull, and sea crow.

2. An American gull ( Larus atricilla). In summer the head is nearly black, the back slate color, and the five outer primaries black.

   Laughing hyena (Zo["o]l.), the spotted hyena. See Hyena.

   Laughing jackass (Zo["o]l.), the great brown kingfisher ( Dacelo gigas), of Australia; -- called also giant kingfisher, and gogobera.

   Laughing owl (Zo["o]l.), a peculiar owl ( Sceloglaux albifacies) of New Zealand, said to be on the verge of extinction. The name alludes to its notes.

"lapwing" (still the usual name for it in Scotland), 1520s, imitative of its cry (compare Flemish piewit-voghel, Middle Low German kivit, German kiwitz; also see kibitz).

n. (context UK English) (alternative form of peewit English)

1. n. small black-headed European gull [syn: laughing gull, blackcap, pewit gull, Larus ridibundus]

2. large crested Old World plover having wattles and spurs [syn: lapwing, green plover, peewit]

3. small olive-colored woodland flycatchers of eastern North America [syn: pewee, peewee, peewit, wood pewee, Contopus virens]