Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Curlew \Cur"lew\ (k[^u]r"l[=u]), n. [F. courlieu, corlieu,
   courlis; perh. of imitative origin, but cf. OF. corlieus
   courier; L. currere to run + levis light.] (Zo["o]l.)
   A wading bird of the genus {Numenius}, remarkable for its
   long, slender, curved bill.

   Note: The common European curlew is {N. arquatus}. The
         long-billed ({N. longirostris}), the Hudsonian ({N.
         Hudsonicus}), and the Eskimo curlew ({N. borealis}, are
         American species. The name is said to imitate the note
         of the European species.

   {Curlew Jack} (Zo["o]l.) the whimbrel or lesser curlew.

   {Curlew sandpiper} (Zo["o]l.), a sandpiper ({Tringa
      ferruginea, or subarquata}), common in Europe, rare in
      America, resembling a curlew in having a long, curved
      bill. See Illustation in Appendix.