\Dot"ter*el\, a. [Cf. {Dottard}.]
Decayed. ``Some old dotterel trees.'' [Obs.] --Ascham.

\Dot"ter*el\, n. [From {Dote}, v. i.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) A European bird of the Plover family
   ({Eudromias, or Charadrius, morinellus}). It is tame and
   easily taken, and is popularly believed to imitate the
   movements of the fowler.
         In catching of dotterels we see how the foolish bird
         playeth the ape in gestures.          -- Bacon.
Note: The ringed dotterel (or ring plover) is {Charadrius
      hiaticula}.
2. A silly fellow; a dupe; a gull. --Barrow.