BLACKBIRD

blackbird, merl, merle, ouzel, ousel, European blackbird, Turdus merula

(noun) common black European thrush

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

blackbird (plural blackbirds)

A common true thrush, Turdus merula, found in woods and gardens over much of Eurasia, and introduced elsewhere.

A variety of New World birds of the family Icteridae (26 species of icterid bird).

(slang, derogatory, historical, among slavers and pirates) A native of the South Pacific islands.

Synonyms

• (Turdus merula): common blackbird; Eurasian blackbird; merle, merl; ouzel

• (Icteridae): icterid

Verb

blackbird (third-person singular simple present blackbirds, present participle blackbirding, simple past and past participle blackbirded)

To enslave someone, especially through chicanery or force

Coordinate terms

• ictericus

• merula

• merulus

Source: Wiktionary

Black"bird, n. (Zoöl.)

Definition: In England, a species of thrush (Turdus merula), a singing bird with a fin note; the merle. In America the name is given to several birds, as the Quiscalus versicolor, or crow blackbird; the Agelæus phoeniceus, or red-winged blackbird; the cowbird; the rusty grackle, etc. See Redwing.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition