pewee

[ pee-wee ]

noun

1. any of several New World flycatchers of the genus Contopus. Compare wood pewee.
2. the phoebe.

pewee

/ ˈpiːwiː /

noun

1. any of several small North American flycatchers of the genus Contopus, having a greenish-brown plumage

Word History and Origins

Origin of pewee¹

An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of pewee¹

C19: imitative of its cry

Example Sentences

They were paging through a binder of listings, checking off the day’s sightings, including the northern beardless tyrannulet and greater pewee.

From New York Times

The impacted species include blackbirds, flycatchers, sparrows, swallows, warblers and the western wood pewee.

From Salon

“What makes pewee soccer particularly insidious is that boys and girls play together,” he wrote.

From Washington Post

The migrant wildlife is gone, the pewees, vireos and wood thrushes all far to the south by now.

From Washington Post

“There’s your eastern wood pewee,” he says with excitement, steadying the laser on the tree trunk next to the sitting bird.

From Washington Post