n.
Pronunciation: ' fa-l ə - ˌ r ō p
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ropes also -rope
Etymology: French, from New Latin phalaropod-, phalaropus, from Greek phalaris coot + pod-, pous foot; akin to Greek phalios having a white spot ― more at BALD , FOOT
Date: circa 1776
: any of a genus ( Phalaropus ) of small shorebirds related to sandpipers but distinguished by their lobed toes and preference for swimming