n. (Zool.), Any one of several species of wading birds of the genus Haematopus having stout legs and bill and mostly black-and-white plumage, which frequent seashores and feed upon oysters and other shellfish. The European species (Haematopus ostralegus), the common American species (Haematopus palliatus), and the California, or black, oyster catcher (Haematopus Bachmani) are the best known.
Syn. -- oyster plover. [ 1913 Webster ]