The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Dotterel \Dot"ter*el\, a. [Cf. Dottard.]
   Decayed. "Some old dotterel trees." [Obs.] --Ascham.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Dotterel \Dot"ter*el\, n. [From Dote, v. i.]
   1. (Zool.) A European bird of the Plover family (Eudromias
      morinellus, syn. Charadrius morinellus). It is tame and
      easily taken, and is popularly believed to imitate the
      movements of the fowler.
      [1913 Webster]

            In catching of dotterels we see how the foolish bird
            playeth the ape in gestures.          --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: The ringed dotterel (or ring plover) is Charadrius
         hiaticula.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. A silly fellow; a dupe; a gull. --Barrow.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

dotterel
    n 1: rare plover of upland areas of Eurasia [syn: dotterel,
         dotrel, Charadrius morinellus, Eudromias morinellus]