jailbird
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of jailbird
Explanation
A jailbird is someone who's been in prison or is still there. Your parents might refer to your disgraced car thief cousin a jailbird. Jailbird is a casual and derogatory term for a convicted criminal, especially one who's been in and out of jail several times. Following a prison escape, a local newspaper's headline might read "Jailbird on the Loose!" Jailbird, coined in the 17th century, equates the image of a bird in a cage with a prisoner in jail.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
People posted side-by-sides of this outfit next to Nicolas Cage dressed the same in “Con Air,” an action-farce set aboard a prison transport plane called the Jailbird.
From New York Times • Jul. 24, 2023
In case you’ve been counting, Krusty, Jailbird, and Mr. Burns have nearly two-thirds of the vote between them.
From Slate • Mar. 5, 2018
The Odyssey line still makes room for traditional mallets, including several new face-balanced models like the Marxman and the Jailbird Mini, which Branden Grace used when he shot 62 at last year’s British Open.
From Golf Digest • Jan. 19, 2018
Jailbird Stephenson, vexed because friends have neglected to bend his bars, has turned over to Prosecutor Remy a large black box containing many Indiana secrets.
From Time Magazine Archive
"Mos' likely down to the Jailbird," said Billy, Young.
From Judith of Blue Lake Ranch by Gregory, Jackson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
