mockingbird

[mok-ing-burd]

noun

any of several gray, black, and white songbirds of the genus Mimus, especially M. polyglottos, of the U.S. and Mexico, noted for their ability to mimic the songs of other birds.
any of various related or similar birds, as Melanotis caerulescens (blue mockingbird), of Mexico.

Origin of mockingbird

1670–80, Americanism; mocking + bird

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for mockingbird

Contemporary Examples

We know that Mockingbird, played by Adrianne Palicki, will be making an appearance, as well as the Absorbing Man.
The Leaner, Meaner Season 2 of ‘Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’
Jason Lynch
September 22, 2014
My hunch is that “Mockingbird” was packed with pairings on purpose.
Game of Thrones’ Ep. 7 ‘Mockingbird’ Recap: Conscious Coupling (and Uncoupling)
Andrew Romano
May 19, 2014
Your first film role was in To Kill A Mockingbird, which was a very important film in 1962 during the Civil Rights Movement.
Robert Duvall on His Storied Career, His New Movie, and Why He’s Ditching the GOP
Marlow Stern
March 13, 2014
Danza assigned his students reading that included To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, and Julius Caesar.
Tony Danza on His New Book About Teaching, ‘Who’s the Boss,’ and ‘Twilight’
Ramin Setoodeh
September 14, 2012
The Hunger Games is on the list (No. 3), as is To Kill a Mockingbird (No. 10).
Should This Woman's Books Be Banned?
Abigail Pesta
April 11, 2012

Historical Examples

In this country the mockingbird is the only regular night-singer we have.
Fresh Fields
John Burroughs
Thrasher and Mockingbird face people on playground at Miakwa'orve.
Seven Mohave Myths
A. L. Kroeber
He is a fine singer, and has been called the French mockingbird.
The Children's Book of Birds
Olive Thorne Miller
Sometimes it is hard to tell his song from the mockingbird's.
The Children's Book of Birds
Olive Thorne Miller
After that I was fly-catcher every day till he learned to like mockingbird food.
The Children's Book of Birds
Olive Thorne Miller

British Dictionary definitions for mockingbird

mockingbird

noun

Australian any American songbird of the family Mimidae, having a long tail and grey plumage: noted for their ability to mimic the song of other birds
a small scrub bird, Atrichornis rufescens, noted for its mimicry

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 mockingbird

n.

also mocking-bird, 1670s, from mocking (adj.), 1520s, from present participle of mock (v.) + bird (n.1). Earlier form was mock-bird (1640s).

mockingbird

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}mockingbird

Examples from the Web for mockingbird

Contemporary Examples

We know that Mockingbird, played by Adrianne Palicki, will be making an appearance, as well as the Absorbing Man.

My hunch is that “Mockingbird” was packed with pairings on purpose.

Your first film role was in To Kill A Mockingbird, which was a very important film in 1962 during the Civil Rights Movement.

Danza assigned his students reading that included To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, and Julius Caesar.

The Hunger Games is on the list (No. 3), as is To Kill a Mockingbird (No. 10).

Historical Examples

In this country the mockingbird is the only regular night-singer we have.

Thrasher and Mockingbird face people on playground at Miakwa'orve.

He is a fine singer, and has been called the French mockingbird.

Sometimes it is hard to tell his song from the mockingbird's.

After that I was fly-catcher every day till he learned to like mockingbird food.

mockingbird

Word Origin and History for mockingbird

n.

Origin of mockingbird