birdy
birdy Lexical Profile
birdy Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An informal or childish term for a small bird, belonging to the warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrate class Aves, characterized by feathers, wings, and a beak.
"The toddler pointed excitedly at the little birdy hopping across the garden lawn."
North American A lightweight conical projectile with a rounded cork base and a crown of feathers or plastic, hit back and forth over a net in badminton; a shuttlecock.
"She hit the birdy high over the net during the final game of badminton."
A score of one stroke under par on a hole in golf (more commonly spelled 'birdie').
"He sank a long putt on the ninth hole to finish the front nine with a birdy."
• adjective
Resembling or characteristic of a bird, especially in appearance, quick movement, or sound.
"The elderly gentleman had sharp, birdy features and a habit of tilting his head when listening."
Abounding in or frequented by many birds.
"Early morning is the best time to explore the birdy marshes along the coast."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'birdy' is the standard spelling for the adjective meaning 'abounding in or resembling birds,' the noun senses—referring to a small bird, a badminton shuttlecock, or a golf score of one under par—are much more commonly spelled 'birdie.'