Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CULFLEAP, Cu(l)fleep, Culphleep, Cu(l)wheep, n.
1. The curlew, Numenius arquatus (Mry.1 1925, culfleep, cu'fleep, culwheep, cu'wheep; Upp. Deeside 1917 (per Abd.8), cul-fleap (not much used)).
2. The oyster-catcher, Haematopus ostralegus (Mry. 1844 G. Gordon Fauna of Mry. in Zoologist (Feb.), culphleep; 1916 T.S.D.C. II., cul/leap).
[Prob. onomat. from the call of the bird. The -wheep form may be due to the influence of Whaup, by which name the curlew is also known, or it may refer to the shrill call of the bird (see Wheep).]
