bird

Meaning

Noun

1. A member of the class of animals Aves in the phylum Chordata, characterized by being warm-blooded, having feathers and wings usually capable of flight, having a beaked mouth, and laying eggs.
2. (slang) A chicken or turkey used as food.
3. (slang) A man, fellow.
4. (colloquial) A girl or woman, especially one considered sexually attractive.
5. (colloquial) A girl or woman, especially one considered sexually attractive.
6. (slang) An aircraft.
7. (slang) A satellite.
8. (obsolete) A chicken; the young of a fowl; a young eaglet; a nestling.
9. Booing and jeering, especially as done by an audience expressing displeasure at a performer.
10. The vulgar hand gesture in which the middle finger is extended.
11. A yardbird.
12. (slang) A kilogram of cocaine.
13. (slang) A penis.
14. (slang) Jailtime; time in prison.

Verb

1. To observe or identify wild birds in their natural environment.
2. To catch or shoot birds; to hunt birds.
3. To seek for game or plunder; to thieve.
4. To transmit via satellite.

Adj

Able to be passed with very little work; having the nature of a bird course.

Verb

To bring into prison, to roof.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bɜːd/

Etymology

From Middle English bird, brid, from Old English bridd (“chick, fledgling, chicken”), of uncertain origin (see Old English bridd for more). Originally from a term used of birds that could not fly (chicks, fledglings, chickens) as opposed to the general Old English term for flying birds, fugol (modern fowl). Gradually replaced fowl as the most common term starting in the 14th century.
The "booing/jeering" and "vulgar hand gesture" senses derived from the expression “to give the big bird”, as in “to hiss someone like a goose”, dated in the mid‐18th century.