Obs. [OE. eorðling ‘agricola,’ f. eorðe earth. Cf. ‘clod-bird,’ and ‘fallow-smiter.’] A species of bird; the Wheatear.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gloss., in Wright, Voc., 29/2. Tanticus, ærðling. Ibid., 281/1. Cucuzata, irþling … Birbiccariolus, irþling. Ibid. (a. 1100), 63/1. Birbicaliolus, eorðling.
1544. Turner, Avium Hist., 44. Κυανός, Cœruleo, a clotburd, a smatche, an arlyng, a steinchek.
1580. Baret, Alv., A 544. Arling, a byrde that appeareth not in winter: a clotbyrde: a smatch.
1655. Moufet & Bennet, Health’s Improv. (1746), 185. The … Arling is as big almost as a Thrush, feeding chiefly upon Cherries.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Arlyng … a name by which the common œnanthe is called.
