birdie

[ bur-dee ]

noun

1. a small bird.
2. Golf. a score of one stroke under par on a hole.
3. a shuttlecock.

verb (used with object)

, bird·ied, bird·ie·ing.

1. Golf. to make a birdie on (a hole).

birdie

/ ˈbɜːdɪ /

noun

1. golf a score of one stroke under par for a hole
2. informal.
   a bird, esp a small bird

verb

1. tr golf to play (a hole) in one stroke under par

Word History and Origins

Origin of birdie¹

First recorded in 1785–95; bird + -ie

Example Sentences

Then, after summoning himself to play the next 13 holes in 3 under despite several barely missed birdie putts, Matsuyama’s greatest strength — his iron play — bit him.

From Washington Post

Rose made a birdie on 18 Sunday to finish his 2021 Masters on something of a high note.

From Washington Post

Will Zalatoris was suddenly alone in second place, at 9 under, after a birdie at the 17th.

From Washington Post

Phil Mickelson opens his third round with a birdie at hole No.

From Washington Post

The magic continued for the 2015 Masters champion two holes later, when he chipped in from for birdie from 60 feet to move to 5 under and a share of fifth pace, two shots back of co-leaders Hideki Matsuyama and Justin Rose.

From Washington Post

Her very first performance onstage came at the age of 4, when she cameoed as a dancing flower in the musical Bye Bye Birdie.

From The Daily Beast

The year before that, West Side Story and Bye Bye Birdie were huge sellers.

From The Daily Beast

“Bye Bye Birdie” actor Dick Van Dyke and his wife were saved by a couple of Good Samaritans when their car went up in smoke.

From The Daily Beast

Anytime you want to break my heart, you can just have Don call her “Birdie.”

From The Daily Beast

Four years old, and I was on the subway, the old BMT from Brooklyn to Manhattan, just making the matinee of Bye, Bye, Birdie.

From The Daily Beast

Shocked to hear Birdie has been hit, but another message to say nothing serious, came close on the heels of the first.

From Project Gutenberg

Birdie has fairly taken the fighting edge off Liman von Sanders' two new Divisions: he has knocked them to bits.

From Project Gutenberg

Left on a picket boat with Birdie to board my destroyer to an accompaniment of various denominations of projectiles.

From Project Gutenberg

I jumped on to it—had to—then jumped off it nippier still and, turning to the right, began to walk towards Birdie's dugout.

From Project Gutenberg

At last, rather tired by my long day, made my way back, stopping at Birdie's dugout en route.

From Project Gutenberg