ETYM Old Eng. lapwynke, leepwynke, AS. hleápewince; hleápan to leap, jump + (prob.) a word akin to AS. wincian to wink, Eng. wink, AS. wancol wavering; cf. German wanken to stagger, waver. Related to Leap, and Wink.
Large crested Old World plover having wattles and spurs; SYN. green plover, peewit, pewit.
Eurasian bird Vanellus vanellus of the plover family, also known as the green plover and, from its call, as the peewit. Bottle-green above and white below, with a long thin crest and rounded wings, it is about 30 cm/1 ft long. It inhabits moorland in Europe and Asia, making a nest scratched out of the ground.
It is an occasional visitor to NE North America.