# bird

> English word · Noun · IPA /bɜːd/ · frequency rank #2,329

## Definitions
1. An animal of the clade (traditionally class) Aves in the phylum Chordata, characterized by being warm-blooded, having feathers and wings usually capable of flight, having a beaked mouth, and laying eggs.
2. A chicken; the young of a fowl; a young eaglet; a nestling.
3. A chicken or turkey used as food.
4. A man, fellow.
5. A girl or woman, especially one considered sexually attractive.
6. A girl or woman, especially one considered sexually attractive.
7. An aircraft.
8. A satellite.
9. Booing and jeering, especially as done by an audience expressing displeasure at a performer.
10. The vulgar hand gesture in which the middle finger is extended.
11. A yardbird.
12. A kilogram of cocaine.
13. A penis.
14. Snowbird (retiree who moves to a warmer climate).

## Etymology
From Middle English bird, brid, from Old English bridd (“chick, fledgling, chicken”), of uncertain origin (see Old English bridd for more). Originally from a term used of birds that could not fly (chicks, fledglings, chickens) as opposed to the general Old English term for flying birds, fugol (modern fowl). Gradually replaced fowl as the most common term starting in the 14th century.
The "booing/jeering" and "vulgar hand gesture" senses derived from the expression “to give the big bird”, as in “to hiss someone like a goose”, dated in the mid‐18th century.

## Easily confused with
- **br** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-br)
- **bit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-bit)
- **bro** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-bro)
- **bud** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-bud)
- **bra** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-bra)
- **bis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-bis)
- **biz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-biz)
- **bpd** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-bpd)
- **bod** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-bod)
- **bor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-bor)
- **BRB** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-brb)
- **Bri** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-bri)
- **bur** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-bur)
- **bru** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-bru)
- **born** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-born)
- **bond** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-bond)
- **burn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-burn)
- **bite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-bite)
- **bold** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-bold)
- **bits** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bird-vs-bits)

## Common misspellings (6)
`bbird`, `bidr`, `birdd`, `birrd`, `brid`, `ibrd`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/bird