释义 |
▪ I. birding, vbl. n.|ˈbɜːdɪŋ| [f. bird v.] 1. The action or sport of bird-catching or fowling. arch.
1569J. Sandford Agrippa's Van. Artes 122 An other exercise of Hunting, which is termed Fouling, or Birding. 1605Verstegan Dec. Intell. iii. (1628) 63 The great pleasure hee tooke in his youth in birding. 1729M. Browne Pisc. Eclog. viii. (1773) 110 Two Swains who are exercised in Birding. [1852Thackeray Esmond i. iv, Lord Castlewood would take the lad..a-hunting or a-birding.] b. fig. and transf. arch.
[c1460Towneley Myst. 79, I have..of hir byrdyng hir upbrade, And she not gylty is.] 1624Fletcher Rule a Wife v. i. (1776) 55 Do you go a birding for all sorts of people? 1656in Burton Diary (1828) I. 178 They..go a birding for sheriffs every year. 1708S. Centlivre Busie Body i. i, A birding thus early! c. colloq. The activity of bird-watching. Also attrib.
[1927Daily News 16 June 6/5 Miss Fry plays the flute and joins in the arduous sport of ‘birding’. This consists in following across country any strange species of bird, and of playing the flute beneath the tree on which the melodious songster performs.] 1934Brit. Birds XXVII. 345, I wrenched up the gorse-bush by means of a hooked stick-crowbar, a tool which sometimes forms part of my ‘birding’ equipment with such an emergency in view. 1956Peterson & Fisher Wild Amer. xxxiii. 356 Bill did more pure birding than the rest of us. 1977New Yorker 12 Sept. 31/3 Top of the Point..has for years been a popular birding spot. 1980Daily Tel. 13 Nov. 16/8 The book gives a glossary of ‘birding’ terms and advice on identification. 1986Bird Watching May 9/4 Membership of a bird club can open the door to the whole wonderful world of birding probably quicker than by any other means. †2. A taking aim, as at a bird. Obs.
a1678Marvell Loyal Scot, [He] entertains..his time,..With birding at the Dutch. 3. attrib.
1588Lanc. & Chesh. Wills III. 12 To Robt. Leftwiche my birdinge piece with a little horne flaske. 1598Shakes. Merry W. iv. ii. 59. 1613 J. [Dennys] Angling in Arb. Garner I. 153 Like to the pellet of a birding bow. 1669J. Rose Eng. Vineyard (1675) 28 When the fruit is of the size of birding-shot. 1673Lond. Gaz. No. 751/4 A plain Birding Gun, in a Red Leather Case. 1816Scott Antiq. xxxv, To crack off his birding-piece at a poor covey of partridges. ▪ II. birding, -yne obs. forms of burden n. |