| 释义 |
blackbird|ˈblækbɜːd|
[The only bird in an earlier sense (before crows and rooks were included) which is black (or rather dark brown).]
A well-known European song-bird, a species of thrush (Merula turdus, L.). In North America the name is given to other birds, e.g. the Gracula quiscala, and Oriolus (Agelaius) phœniceus.
1486Bk. St. Albans D j a, For the blacke bride and the thrushe. 1552Huloet, blacke byrde or owsyl, turdus. 1616Surfl. & Markh. Countr. Farm 729 The strongest and stoutest bird that can be, is the Blacke-bird. 1766Pennant Zool. (1768) I. 412 The blackbird continues in Italy the whole year. 1879Jefferies Wild Life S. County 131 In glass cases are..a white blackbird, and a diver. Nursery Rime, Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.
b. loosely = Songster.
1634Massinger Very Wom. iii. i, You never had such black-birds.
2. fig. Cant name for a captive Negro or Polynesian on board a slave or pirate ship.
1881Chequered Career 180 The white men on board knew that if once the ‘blackbirds’ burst the hatches..they would soon master the ship. |