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bird's nest

American  

noun

  1. nest.

  2. Angling.  backlash.


bird's-nest British  

verb

  1. (intr) to search for the nests of birds in order to collect the eggs

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bird's nest

First recorded in 1590–1600

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.

Some ingredients commonly found in Chinese fine dining include qi-boosting gelatinous fish maw, collagen-rich bird’s nest and nutrient-dense sea cucumber.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s mostly not acceptable to go about daily life dressed as a matchbox or wearing a bird’s nest, rubbish, or lobster claws on one’s head, even if it is designed by Dior.

From Slate

Now, TV is so loaded with running mascara and bird’s nest hair that it’s difficult to tell shows apart.

From Salon

Lee said he tried only the bird’s nest soup.

From Los Angeles Times

But as I settled into my booth, the kind of faux-leather banquette that makes a gentle whoosh under your thighs and smells faintly of buttered toast and upholstery cleaner, a thought nudged its way to the front of the line: If I’m going to eat 800 calories, shouldn’t I just order pasta instead of a Barbeque Ranch Chicken Salad, a riot of creamy avocado, tomato, grilled corn and black beans finished with a tangled bird’s nest of crispy fried onion strings?

From Salon