| 释义 |
ˈhedge-bird
1. Any bird that lives in or frequents hedges.
1884Jefferies in Chamb. Jrnl. 1 Mar. 130/1 The hedge-sparrows..are early in spring joined by the whitethroats, almost the first hedgebirds to return.
2. transf. A person born, brought up, or accustomed to loiter under a hedge; a vagrant; a sturdy vagabond; a footpad. Cf. gaol-bird.
1614B. Jonson Barth. Fair ii. i, Out, you rogue, you hedge-bird, you pimp. 1670G. H. Hist. Cardinals i. i. 6 His garb spoke him rather a Hedge-bird. 1706Estcourt Fair Examp. v. i, I know there's some Business a-foot by this Hedge-bird's cackling. 1877Spurgeon Serm. XXIII. 287 They were highwaymen and hedge-birds. |