bird's nest

American  

noun

1. nest.

2. Angling. backlash.

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bird's-nest British  

verb

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

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Etymology

Origin of bird's nest

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

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 • Oct. 18, 2025

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 • Jul. 21, 2025

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

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2025

There are quite a few mushrooms that have evolved a very unique way of dispersing their spores: by shaping themselves to look exactly like a bird's nest full of eggs.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2023

His russet beard was a bird’s nest tangle; one cheek was pulled downwards by an ugly scar, and whatever had bitten him had taken off one ear.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver