Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CHALDER, CHALDRICK, Chaldro, Chaldroo, n.² “The sea-pie, or oyster catcher, Hæmatopus ostralegus” (Sh., Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Ork. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ VII. 546; 1806 P. Neill Tour through . . . Ork. and Sh. 203, chaldrick; 1885 C. Swainson Brit. Birds 188, obs.; 1929 Marw.; Ork.¹ 1930, chaldro). [′tʃaldər, ′tʃaldro (Marw.), ′tʃaldrɪk]Sh. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ I. 407:
The chalder, resembling the lapwing . . . appear[s] in the month of January.Ork. 1957 Ronald Miller ed. The Third Statistical Account of Scotland: The county of Orkney (1985) 131:
The hole in the bottom of a boat through which bilge water can run out is called the 'nile hole' (O.N. nyglenol), and the oyster catcher is called the 'chaldro' (O.N. tjald, a tent, so called because the bird has long legs like a tent pole). Ork. 1995 Orcadian Mar 7:
So, just sit tight in your tent, admire the snowdrops just appearing, listen to the chatter of the returning chaldroos as they fly through the night and watch the sun slip along the horizon to better days.