blackbird

¹black·bird

noun \ˈblak-ˌbərd\

Definition of BLACKBIRD

1

: any of various birds of which the males are largely or entirely black: as

a : a common thrush (Turdus merula) of Eurasia and northern Africa having an orange bill and eye rim

b : any of several American oscine birds (family Icteridae)

2

: a Pacific islander kidnapped for use as a plantation laborer

First Known Use of BLACKBIRD

14th century

Other Birds Terms

aerie, bunting, clutch, covey, hackle, ratite, rictus, ruff, skein, zygodactyl

Rhymes with BLACKBIRD

absurd, bean curd, begird, bellbird, bluebird, boobird, buzzword, byword, catbird, catchword, cowbird, cowherd, crossword, cussword, engird, game bird, ghost word, goatherd, good word, guide word, headword, jailbird, jaybird, key word, kingbird, last word, loanword, lovebird, lyrebird, my word, oilbird, password, potsherd, railbird, rainbird, redbird, reword, ricebird, seabird, Sigurd, shorebird, snakebird, snowbird, songbird, state bird, sunbird, surfbird, swearword, swineherd, textured, ungird, unheard, watchword, yardbird

²blackbird

intransitive verb

Definition of BLACKBIRD

: to engage in the slave trade especially in the South Pacific

First Known Use of BLACKBIRD

circa 1873

blackbird

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In the New World, any of several species of songbirds in the family Icteridae, collectively called icterids; also, an Old World thrush (Turdus merula, family Turdidae). The best known icterid is the red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), which ranges from Canada to the West Indies and Central America. It is 8 in. (20 cm) long, and the male's black plumage is set off by red shoulder patches. The Old World blackbird, 10 in. (25 cm) long, is common in woods and gardens throughout temperate Eurasia as well as in Australia and New Zealand. See also grackle.