01 n. Orig., a chicken; the young of a fowl; a young eaglet; a nestling; and hence, a feathered flying animal (see 2).
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1.
Orig., a chicken; the young of a fowl; a young eaglet; a nestling; and hence, a feathered flying animal (see 2).“That ungentle gull, the cuckoo's bird.” — Shak.“The brydds [birds] of the aier have nestes.” — Tyndale (Matt. viii. 20).
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3.
Specifically, among sportsmen, a game bird.
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4.
Fig.: A girl; a maiden.“And by my word! the bonny bird In danger shall not tarry.” — Campbell.
Phrases & compounds
Arabian bird —
the phenix.
Bird of Jove —
the eagle.
Bird of Juno —
the peacock.
Bird louse —
a wingless insect of the group Mallophaga, of which the genera and species are very numerous and mostly parasitic upon birds.
Bird mite —
a small mite (genera Dermanyssus, Dermaleichus and allies) parasitic upon birds. The species are numerous.
Bird of passage —
a migratory bird.
Bird spider —
a very large South American spider (Mygale avicularia). It is said sometimes to capture and kill small birds.
Bird tick —
a dipterous insect parasitic upon birds (genus Ornithomyia, and allies), usually winged.