sups. (old colloquial).—1. A lady. [HALLIWELL: The term is very common in early English poetry, and is occasionally applied to the other sex, as in Amis and Amiloun, 15].
[?]. Leg. Cathol. 35.
| His ost spac and ȝaf answare, | |
| And ȝede forth with the BIRD so bold. |
2. (colloquial).—The pupil of the eye, or perhaps the little reflected image on the retina, or that of a very near spectator reflected from the cornea: cf. BABIES IN THE EYES.
3. (provincial).—An endearment: spec. any pet animal: also BIRDIE.
4. (theatrical).—Mr. H. J. Byron says that when a piece is hissed the actors say ‘The BIRD’S there!’;—the bird alluded to being the goose.
1886. Graphic, 10 April, p. 399. To be ‘goosed,’ or, as it is sometimes phrased, ‘to get the BIG BIRD,’ is occasionally a compliment to the actor’s power of representing villainy, but more often is disagreeably suggestive of a failure to please.
5. (venery).—The penis: see PRICK.
Verb (old).—To thieve; to steal; to look for plunder. So used by Ben Jonson.
AS BARE AS A BIRD’S TAIL, phr. (old).—Stripped; as bare as may be.
1614. Terence in English. Despoliavit nos omnibus. He hath not left us a dish to eate our meat in. He hath stript us of al. We are spoiled of all that we have by him. He hath left us as bare AS A BIRDS TAILE.
LIKE A BIRD, phr. (common).—Easily; facile; with as little trouble as a bird in flying.
BIRD IN HAND, subs. phr. (old).—Something certain or practical: as opposed to a BIRD IN THE BUSH = something remote or uncertain.
1692. J. HACKET, Life of Archbishop Williams, i. 163. The Prince knew well where he was now; when all their capitulations were held to be star-shootings, flashes, and meteors, without the BIRD IN THE HAND.
1809. MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 70. Donna Mergelina was sorry for the delay, as well knowing that a BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH.
1877. TENNYSON, Harold, II, ii.
| Simple! let fly the BIRD WITHIN THE HAND, | |
| To catch the BIRD again WITHIN THE BUSH. |
PHRASES. THE BIRD IN THE BOSOM = one’s secret pledge, conscience. BIRDS OF A FEATHER = of like character. Also proverbs and proverbial sayings:—‘Some beat the bush and others take the BIRD’; ‘A child’s BIRD and a knave’s wife lead a sore life’; ‘The BIRD that fouleth its own nest is not honest’; ‘An old BIRD is not caught with chaff’; ‘To kill two BIRDS with one stone’; ‘The early BIRD catches the worm.’
d. 1618. SYLVESTER, The Schisme, 80.
| Reboam, scorning these old senators, | |
| Leans to his younglings, minions, flatterers, | |
| BIRDS OF A FEATHER that with one accord | |
| Cry out, importune, and persuade their lord | |
| Not sillily to be by such disturb’d. |
1680. ELIZABETH CARY, The History of the Life, Reign, and Death of Edward II., 58. These, for distinction, and that they might be known all BIRDS OF A FEATHER, are suited in Cassocks with a white guard athwart; which gave this the name of the Parliament of white Bends.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. BIRDS OF A FEATHER, c. Rogues of the same gang; also, those of the same Profession, Trade or Employment. TO KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE, to dispatch two Businesses at one Stroke.
1706. WARD, The Wooden World Dissected, 25. BIRDS OF A FEATHER that always aque together.
1772. BRIDGES, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, 180.
| Thus swimmingly the knave went on, | |
| And kill’d TWO BIRDS WITH EVERY STONE. |
1834. SOUTHEY, The Doctor, lxv. The idle and dissipated like BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER.
