Bird of passage

Bird of passage
Bird Bird (b[~e]rd), n. [OE. brid, bred, bird, young bird, bird, AS. bridd young bird. [root]92.] 1. Orig., a chicken; the young of a fowl; a young eaglet; a nestling; and hence, a feathered flying animal (see 2). [1913 Webster]

That ungentle gull, the cuckoo's bird. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

The brydds [birds] of the aier have nestes. --Tyndale (Matt. viii. 20). [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]l.) A warm-blooded, feathered vertebrate provided with wings. See {Aves}. [1913 Webster]

3. Specifically, among sportsmen, a game bird. [1913 Webster]

4. Fig.: A girl; a maiden. [1913 Webster]

And by my word! the bonny bird In danger shall not tarry. --Campbell. [1913 Webster]

{Arabian bird}, the phenix.

{Bird of Jove}, the eagle.

{Bird of Juno}, the peacock.

{Bird louse} (Zo["o]l.), a wingless insect of the group Mallophaga, of which the genera and species are very numerous and mostly parasitic upon birds. -- Bird mite (Zo["o]l.), a small mite (genera {Dermanyssus}, {Dermaleichus} and allies) parasitic upon birds. The species are numerous.

{Bird of passage}, a migratory bird.

{Bird spider} (Zo["o]l.), a very large South American spider ({Mygale avicularia}). It is said sometimes to capture and kill small birds.

{Bird tick} (Zo["o]l.), a dipterous insect parasitic upon birds (genus {Ornithomyia}, and allies), usually winged. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • bird of passage — plural birds of passage n 1.) technical a bird that flies from one area or country to another, according to the seasons 2.) literary someone who never stays in the same place for long …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • bird of passage — (plural ,birds of passage) noun count 1. ) OLD FASHIONED a bird that flies from one part of the world to another when the season changes 2. ) LITERARY someone who keeps moving from one place to another …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • bird of passage — n. 1. any migratory bird 2. anyone who travels or roams about constantly …   English World dictionary

  • bird of passage — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms bird of passage : singular bird of passage plural birds of passage literary someone who keeps moving from one place to another …   English dictionary

  • bird of passage — birds of passage N COUNT If you refer to someone as a bird of passage, you mean that they are staying in a place for a short time before going to another place. Most of these emigrants were birds of passage who returned to Spain after a… …   English dictionary

  • bird of passage — bird′ of pas′sage n. 1) orn a bird that migrates seasonally 2) a transient or migratory person • Etymology: 1785–95 …   From formal English to slang

  • bird of passage — nomadic bird, wandering bird; temporary tenant, temporary resident …   English contemporary dictionary

  • bird of passage — noun 1. someone who leads a wandering unsettled life • Syn: ↑wanderer, ↑roamer, ↑rover • Derivationally related forms: ↑roam (for: ↑roamer), ↑wander ( …   Useful english dictionary

  • bird of passage — Date: 1678 1. a migratory bird 2. a person who leads a wandering or unsettled life …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • bird of passage — 1. a bird that migrates seasonally. 2. a transient or migratory person. [1785 95] * * * …   Universalium

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