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Glite Dictionary
roughleg

roughleg

9.9
A large hawk with feathered legs that eats small rodents in northern regions
  • noun
  • /ˈrʌfˌlɛg/
translation icon : águila de patas rugosas
  • The roughleg is often seen soaring over open fields in search of mice or voles.

Examples

  • We spotted a roughleg perched atop a fence post, scanning the ground for prey.

  • Farmers appreciate the roughleg because it helps control rodent populations on their land.

  • The roughleg soared high above the fields.

  • Farmers appreciate the roughleg for its pest control.

  • Farmers appreciate the roughleg because it helps control rodent populations on their land.

  • The roughleg is often seen soaring over open fields in search of mice or voles.

  • We spotted a roughleg perched atop a fence post, scanning the ground for prey.

Synonyms

rough-legged hawk
vsroughleg
  • Specialized
7.0

A large Northern hawk with feathered legs that hunts small animals like mice

is the same bird but written without a hyphen as one word
Buteo lagopus
vsroughleg
  • UK
9.9

A large hawk from northern regions that eats small rodents

is the common English name used in everyday or farming contexts

Surface Forms

roughleg singular
roughlegs plural

Morphology

roughleg = rough + leg (semi-transparent) = rough + leg

The components 'rough' + 'leg' are obvious, but knowing them does not guarantee a learner will infer that the compound names a specific hawk species rather than simply describing a rough leg.

Etymology

The word roughleg comes from the simple words rough and leg, because this hawk's legs look 'rough' from their thick feathers. So a roughleg is the hawk people know for its feathered legs and for hunting mice and voles in open fields.