charadriiformes

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. In Garrod's arrangement, one of four orders of homalogonatous birds, including the pigeons, plovers, cranes, gulls, etc. They are distinguished by the schizorhinal structure of the nasal bones.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. large diverse order of aquatic birds found along seacoasts and inland waters; shorebirds and coastal diving birds; most feed on animal life.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. large diverse order of aquatic birds found along seacoasts and inland waters: shorebirds and coastal diving birds; most feed on anima life