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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SHALDER, n. Also shaalder, schalder, sc(e)older, shelder. The oyster-catcher, Haematopus ostralegus (Ork. a.1795 G. Low Fauna Orcad. (1813) 91, sceolder, Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., schalder, 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1970). See also Chalder, n.², Skelder. [′ʃɑldər]Sh. 1810 Scots Mag. (July) 521:
Flocks of chalders, or scolders, regularly spend the winter about the rocky shores of Noss Island.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 68:
The scream of the frightened shelder.Sh. 1949 New Shetlander (Mar.–Apr.) 11:
The Oyster-catcher, or shalder, with its gaily decorative pattern of black and white body, red legs and beak.Sh. 1992 Bobby Tulloch A Guide to Shetland's Breeding Birds 38:
OYSTERCATCHER
(Haematopus ostralegus)
shet: Shalder. Sc. 2004 Scotsman 10 Jul 29:
The journey isn't without incident. I'm attacked by hideous bonxies (great skuas), dive-bombed by Stuka-like tirricks (arctic terns), pleepsed at by irritating shalders (oystercatchers), ...