blackbird

[ blak-burd ]

/ ˈblækˌbɜrd /

noun

a common European thrush, Turdus merula, the male of which is black with a yellow bill.

any of several American birds of the family Icteridae, having black plumage.Compare crow blackbird, red-winged blackbird, rusty blackbird.

any of several other unrelated birds having black plumage in either or both sexes.

(formerly) a person, especially a Kanaka, who was kidnapped and sold abroad, usually in Australia, as a slave.

verb (used with object)

to kidnap (a person), as in blackbirding.

verb (used without object)

to engage in blackbirding.

Nearby words

Origin of blackbird

1480–90; earlier blacke bride. See black, bird

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for blackbird

If the recovery agency is shut down, Blackbird would likely pick up the rescue business as it is outsourced.
America's New Mercenaries|Tim Shorrock|December 15, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Blackbird is run by CEO Peggy Styer, an investor once labeled a "serial defense entrepreneur" by CNN.
America's New Mercenaries|Tim Shorrock|December 15, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The day after, the second of June, I listen to the blackbird.
My Gaza Flotilla Diary|Henning Mankell|June 4, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The Blackbird was again on the table, but seemed this time disinclined to exhibit.
Yeast: A Problem|Charles Kingsley

The Blackbird of America resembles his English cousin in most particulars.
Natural History in Anecdote|Various
"You do the blackbird well," said Richard, and looked at him in a manner mildly affable.
The Ordeal of Richard Feverel, Complete|George Meredith
I found that the sparrow uttered none but harsh notes, whilst those of the blackbird and thrush were sweet and enticing.
Frankenstein|Mary W. Shelley
Now he can whistle better than any other blackbird in Florence.
The Sunbonnet Babies in Italy|Eulalie Osgood Grover

British Dictionary definitions for blackbird

blackbird

/ (ˈblækˌbɜːd) /

noun

a common European thrush, Turdus merula, in which the male has a black plumage and yellow bill and the female is brown

any of various American orioles having a dark plumage, esp any of the genus Agelaius

history a person, esp a South Sea Islander, who was kidnapped and sold as a slave, esp in Australia

verb

(tr) (formerly) to kidnap and sell into slavery

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

Word Origin and History for blackbird

blackbird

late 15c. (late 13c. as a surname), from black (adj.) + bird (n.1). OED says so called for being the only "black" (really dark brown) bird among the songbirds, reflecting an older sense of bird that did not include rooks, crows, ravens.