dial. [Derivation unknown; this and OE. hæferblǽte, hæfenblǽte, name of some bird, ‘bicoca, bugium,’ prov. Eng. hammerbleat snipe, may possibly be various corruptions of the same word.]
‘A Scotch name for the snipe.’ (Jamieson.)
1768. Ross, Helenore, I. 54 (Jam.).
| The earn bleater, or the muirfowls cra’, | |
| Was like to melt her very heart awa’. |
