dotterels

Variant of dotterel

noun pl. dotterels or dotterel

  1. any of various plovers; esp., a European and Asian species (Eudromias morinellus)
  2. Brit., Dialectal an easy dupe

Origin: ME doterel < doten, dote: so called because regarded as stupid and easy to catch

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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