wheatear

plural wheatears · alternative white-ear

1. Any of various passerine birds of the genus Oenanthe that feed on insects,

   What abundance of Hens, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys, Pigeons, and Larks? [...] Maychit, Stint, Sea-Plover, Pewits, Redshanks, Rayles, and Wheat-ears, Herrons, Cranes, Bitterns, Bustards, Puffins, God-wits,

   1669, Edward Chamberlayne, Angliae Notitia; or, The Present State of England, London: T.N. for John Martyn, →OCLC, page 6

   1 more example

   great plenty of the birds so much admired at Tunbridge under the name of wheat-ears. By-the-bye, this is a pleasant corruption of white-a—se, the translation of the French name cul blanc, taken from their color; for they are actually white towards the tail.

   1796, Tobias Smollett, The miscellaneous works of Tobias Smollett, M.D. With memoirs of his life and writings, Edinburgh: J. Mundell, →OCLC, page 21

   1. especially, the northern wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

plural wheatears · alternative white-ear

1. An ear of wheat.
2. A decorative pattern resembling an ear of wheat.
3. An anomalous form of carnation, producing small green ears instead of flowers.