vogelfrei

Meaning

1. (not-comparable) outlawed, banished, proscribed (stripped of all rights and allowed to be killed)
2. (not-comparable) free as a bird

Concepts

outlawed

illegal

Synonyms

verstoßen

geächtet

ausgestoßen

unwillkommen

verachtet

rechtswidrig

schutzlos

unbeschützt

ungesetzlich

unrechtmäßig

wehrlos

entrechtet

rechtlos

ausgeliefert

ohne Rechte

gesetzeswidrig

gesetzwidrig

illegitim

ohne Schutz

Translations

il·legítim

il·lícit

παράνομος

illégal

illégitime

banni

délinquant

hors la loi

ilegal

criminale

illecito

illegittimo

crimineel

illegaal

onwettig

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈfoːɡəlˌfraɪ̯/

Etymology

15th century, from Vogel (“bird”) + frei (“free”). The earliest use was of persons who were free from feudal obligation and thus enjoyed freedom of movement. It seems plausible that the use for “outlawed” may be based on this, in the sense that the outlaw is forced ever to move from place to place. However, the predominantly accepted derivation is from the fact that outlaws could not be buried in Christian cemeteries and were left, as it were, to the birds. Perhaps both notions have contributed.