catbird

[ kat-burd ]

/ ˈkætˌbɜrd /

noun

any of several American or Australian birds having catlike cries, especially Dumetella carolinensis (gray catbird), of North America.

Nearby words

Origin of catbird

An Americanism dating back to 1700–10; cat + bird

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

Examples from the Web for catbird

“Putin's aim is to show that he is in the catbird seat, and there is nothing we can do about it,” this former officer said.
U.S. Spies Said No Russian Invasion of Ukraine—Putin Disagreed|Eli Lake, Christopher Dickey|March 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You might have thought that with Borders shutting down, Barnes and Noble would be sitting in the catbird seat.
Why Is Barnes and Noble Getting Out of the Bookstore Business?|Megan McArdle|February 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There's no question that Republicans are sitting in the catbird's seat.
Barack Obama and the Democrats Need to Take a Stand for Jobs|Michael Tomasky|June 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST
All its habits are similar to our Catbird, and like that species, it is given to imitating the notes of other birds.
Bird Guide: Land Birds East of the Rockies|Chester A. (Chester Albert) Reed

In form and color it much resembles its West India cousin, and suggests our catbird.
Camping with President Roosevelt|John Burroughs
On a near vault a catbird poised for an instant, surveying him with bright, distrustful eyes.
The Voice of the People|Ellen Glasgow
To Mr. Catbird's astonishment old Spot paid no heed to his catcalls.
The Tale of Old Dog Spot|Arthur Scott Bailey
Like many other birds, the catbird is kind to others in trouble.
The Children's Book of Birds|Olive Thorne Miller

British Dictionary definitions for catbird

catbird

/ (ˈkætˌbɜːd) /

noun

any of several North American songbirds of the family Mimidae (mockingbirds), esp Dumetella carolinensis, whose call resembles the mewing of a cat

any of several Australian bowerbirds of the genera Ailuroedus and Scenopoeetes, having a catlike call

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 catbird

catbird

1731, common name for the North American thrush (Dumetella Carolinensis), so called from its warning cry, which resembles that of a cat; from cat (n.) + bird (n.1). Catbird seat is a 19c. Dixieism, popularized by Brooklyn Dodgers baseball announcer Red Barber and by author James Thurber (1942).

"She must be a Dodger fan," he had said. "Red Barber announces the Dodger games over the radio and he uses those expressions--picked 'em up down South." Joey had gone on to explain one or two. "Tearing up the pea patch" meant going on a rampage; "sitting in the catbird seat" means sitting pretty, like a batter with three balls and no strikes on him. [James Thurber, "The Catbird Seat," "The New Yorker," Nov. 14, 1942]