/san"deuhr ling/ , n.
a common, small sandpiper, Calidris alba, inhabiting sandy beaches.
[ 1595-1605; SAND + -erling, repr. OE yrthling kind of bird (perh. a plover), lit., plowman (cf. obs. E earthling plowman), equiv. to yrth plowing, tilling (deriv. of erian to plow, EAR 3 ; for -th, cf. BIRTH) + -ling -LING 1 ]