DOTTEREL is a 8 letter word that starts with D.

1. \Dot"ter*el\, a. [Cf. {Dottard}.]
   Decayed. ``Some old dotterel trees.'' [Obs.] --Ascham.
   
   

2. \Dot"ter*el\, n. [From {Dote}, v. i.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) A European bird of the Plover family
      ({Eudromias, or Charadrius, morinellus}). It is tame and
      easily taken, and is popularly believed to imitate the
      movements of the fowler.
   
            In catching of dotterels we see how the foolish bird
            playeth the ape in gestures.          -- Bacon.
   
   Note: The ringed dotterel (or ring plover) is {Charadrius
         hiaticula}.
   
   2. A silly fellow; a dupe; a gull. --Barrow.