Dictionary

yardbird en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈjɑɹd.bɝd/ (US)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈjɑːd.bəːd/ (UK)

Etymology

From yard + bird. Attested since 1956 in the sense of ‘convict,’ derived from the idea of prison yards. During World War II, it meant ‘basic trainee’ among the armed forces.

Meanings

1. (US, slang) A chicken.
2. (US, slang) A person who is imprisoned.
   • The working convict is a rare exception, sometimes envied because his time is occupied, sometimes derided for his deviance from the yardbird norm. 1985, John P. Conrad, “Charting a Course for Imprisonment Policy,”, in Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, volume 478, page 126:
3. (US, slang) A soldier who is required to perform menial work on the grounds of a military base.
   • As the Marines expanded to war strength, Lou Diamond was the ideal liaison between crusty old-timers and impressionable recruits. He taught quick action by threats of yardbird detail. 1943 July 5, “In the Rough”, in Time:

Forms

Translations (16)

ru заключённый (person who is imprisoned) · de Knastschwester (person who is imprisoned) · de Knastbruder (person who is imprisoned) · de Sträfling (person who is imprisoned) · ro prizonier (person who is imprisoned) · es penado (person who is imprisoned) · es detenido (person who is imprisoned) · fr détenu (person who is imprisoned) · bg наказан войник (person who is imprisoned) · ru у́зник (person who is imprisoned) · fr taulard (person who is imprisoned) · de Knacki (person who is imprisoned) · ro deținut (person who is imprisoned) · fr troufion (soldier required to do menial work) · fi häkkilintu (person who is imprisoned) · fr homme de corvée (soldier required to do menial work)