\Plov"er\, n. [OF. plovier, F. pluvier, prop., the rain
bird, fr. LL. (assumed) pluviarius, fr. L. pluvia rain, from
pluere to rain; akin to E. float, G. fliessen to flow. See
{Float}.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of limicoline birds
   belonging to the family {Charadrid[ae]}, and especially
   those belonging to the subfamily {Charadrins[ae]}. They
   are prized as game birds.
2. (Zo["o]l.) Any grallatorial bird allied to, or resembling,
   the true plovers, as the crab plover ({Dromas ardeola});
   the American upland, plover ({Bartramia longicauda}); and
   other species of sandpipers.
Note: Among the more important species are the {blackbellied,
      or blackbreasted, plover} ({Charadrius squatarola}) of
      America and Europe; -- called also {gray plover},
      {bull-head plover}, {Swiss plover}, {sea plover}, and
      {oxeye}; the {golden plover} (see under {Golden}); the
      {ring or ringed plover} ({[AE]gialitis hiaticula}). See
      {Ringneck}. The {piping plover} ({[AE]gialitis
      meloda}); {Wilson's plover} ({[AE]. Wilsonia}); the
      {mountain plover} ({[AE]. montana}); and the
      {semipalmated plover} ({[AE]. semipalmata}), are all
      small American species.
{Bastard plover} (Zo["o]l.), the lapwing.
{Long-legged}, or {yellow-legged}, {plover}. See {Tattler}.
{Plover's page}, the dunlin. [Prov. Eng.]
{Rock plover}, or {Stone plover}, the black-bellied plover.
   [Prov. Eng.]
{Whistling plover}.
   (a) The golden plover.
   (b) The black-bellied plover.