hedge-birdn.
1. Any bird that lives in or frequents hedges.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > defined by habitat > [noun] > land-bird > living in trees, woods, or hedges
sylvan1612
forester1630
creeper1661
hedge-bird1884
1884 Jefferies in Chambers's Jrnl. 1 Mar. 130/1 The hedge-sparrows..are early in spring joined by the whitethroats, almost the first hedgebirds to return.
2. transferred. A person born, brought up, or accustomed to loiter under a hedge; a vagrant; a sturdy vagabond; a footpad. Cf. jail-bird n.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > roguery, knavery, or rascalry > [noun] > rogue, knave, or rascal > sneaking rogue
hedge-creeper1548
hedge-bird1631
society > travel > aspects of travel > travel from place to place > [noun] > without fixed aim or wandering > vagrancy or vagabondage > vagabond or tramp
harlot?c1225
raikera1400
vacabond1404
vagrant1444
gangrela1450
briber?c1475
palliard1484
vagabondc1485
rogue1489
wavenger1493
hermit1495
gaberlunzie1508
knight of the field1508
loiterer1530
straggler1530
runagate1534
ruffler1535
hedge-creeper1548
Abraham man1567
cursitor1567
runner1567
walker1567
tinker1575
traveller1598
Tartar1602
stravagant1606
wagand1614
Circumcellion1623
meechera1625
hedge-bird1631
gaberlunzie man1649
tramp1664
stroller1681
jockey1685
bird of passage1717
randy1724
tramper1760
stalko1804
vagabondager1813
rintherout1814
piker1838
pikey1838
beachcomber1840
roadster1851
vagabondizer1860
roustabout1862
bum1864
migratory1866
potter1867
sundowner1868
vag1868
walkabout1872
transient1877
Murrumbidgee whaler1878
rouster1882
run-the-hedge1882
whaler1883
shaughraun1884
heather-cat1886
hobo1889
tussocker1889
gay cat1893
overlander1898
stake-man1899
stiff1899
bindle-stiff1900
dingbat1902
stew-bum1902
tired Tim (also Timothy)1906
skipper1925
Strandlooper1927
knight of the road1928
hobohemian1936
plain turkey1955
scrub turkey1955
derro1963
jakey1988
crusty1990
1631 B. Jonson Bartholmew Fayre ii. v. 26 in Wks. II Out you Rogue, you hedge bird, you Pimpe.
1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa i. i. 6 His garb spoke him rather a Hedge-bird.
1706 R. Estcourt Fair Example v. i I know there's some Business a-foot by this Hedge-bird's cackling.
1877 C. H. Spurgeon Serm. XXIII. 287 They were highwaymen and hedge-birds.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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