hard-billedadj.
/ˈhɑːdbɪld/, U.S. /ˈhɑrdˌbɪld/ Ornithology.
Having a hard bill; spec. that is a hardbill (hardbill n.). Contrasted with soft-billed adj.
ΚΠ
1678 J. Ray tr. F. Willughby Ornithol. ii. 244 (heading) Small Birds with thick short strong Bills, commonly called Hard-bill'd Birds [L. Aviculae magnis crassis & validis rostris].
1760 G. Edwards Gleanings Nat. Hist. II. 127 We may suppose..that they are what we call hard-billed Birds, by which means they can crack many sorts of seeds and grains.
1797 R. Beilby & T. Bewick Hist. Brit. Birds I. Pref. p. v The hard-billed birds..which live chiefly on seeds.
1823 P. Syme Treat. Brit. Song-birds 27 The notes of soft-billed birds are finely-toned, mellow, and plaintive;—those of the hard-billed species are sprightly, cheerful, and rapid.
1862 C. A. Johns Brit. Birds 192 In winter, Yellow Hammers assemble in large flocks, often mixed with other hard-billed birds.
1922 Avicultural Mag. Apr. 49 These Wagtails and Pipits often eat seed better than paste, when they are kept in an aviary with the hard billed species.
2000 Evening Post (Nottingham) (Nexis) 8 Nov. 7 Hard billed varieties like finches and sparrows will love sunflower seeds and nuts.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1678- until latter lammas
- until one's prew
- up-all-night
- up-along
- up-anchor
- up-and-at-'em
- up-and-comer
- up-and-coming
- up-and-comingness
- up-and-downer
- up-and-downishness
- up-and-downy
- up-and-over
- up-and-under kick
- up-armored
- up-armoured
- up-banding
- up-bank
- up-brow
- up-by
- up-card
- up-channel
- up-coast
- up-conversion
- up-convert