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Glite Dictionary
dicky-bird

dicky-bird

9.6
A small bird adults often mention to children
  • noun
  • /ˈdɪkiˌbɜːd/
  • Archaic
translation icon : pajarito
  • The child watched the dicky-bird hopping around the garden.

Examples

  • During our picnic, we saw a dicky-bird chirping happily nearby.

  • She pointed excitedly at the dicky-bird perched on the tree branch.

  • ♪ ♪ She was a sweet little dicky-bird ♪ ♪

    The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)

Synonyms

birdie
vsdicky-bird
  • Baby Talk
36 1.4

A small bird people talk about in a friendly way to children

is more neutral adult-directed language rather than affectionate speech
birdy
vsdicky-bird
  • Baby Talk
21 7.9

A small bird often named by children

is used more by children themselves rather than by adults addressing them
ducky
vsdicky-bird
  • Baby Talk
8 3.0

A small toy duck children play with in the bath

is about small birds used in speech with children, not small ducks
chicky
vsdicky-bird
2 8.4

A very young chicken or a small child called in a loving way

is used for small birds by adults rather than as a child's nickname
dickybird
vsdicky-bird
  • Archaic
1 9.6

A small bird people talk about to children

is used especially by adults instead of children using it themselves
chickie
vsdicky-bird
  • Informal
1 8.2

A very young chicken that is small and soft

refers to small birds in conversation, not specifically young chickens
dickey-bird
vsdicky-bird
  • Baby Talk
9.9

A small bird adults call when talking to children

is the same idea but used by adults generally when addressing children
dickeybird
vsdicky-bird
  • Archaic
9.9

A small bird that adults point out to children

is used particularly by adults rather than by children themselves
mossie
vsdicky-bird
  • South African
9.9

A small brown bird like a sparrow that lives in gardens

is a general child-directed small bird term rather than a species name
biddy
vsdicky-bird
  • Informal
9.0

A very young chicken

is used for generic small birds in speech, not specifically young poultry
tody
vsdicky-bird
  • US
9.9

A small bright bird with red and green feathers and a long, straight bill that eats insects

is a general child-directed small bird term, not a specific species

How Small

dicky-bird
  • Archaic
9.6
birdy
  • Baby Talk
21 7.9
bird
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

dicky-bird singular
dicky-birds plural

Morphology

dicky-bird = dicky + bird (semi-transparent) = dicky + bird

The component 'bird' is clear, but 'dicky' is a dialectal/child-directed diminutive that many learners may not recognise as meaning 'small' or 'dainty'.

Etymology

Dicky-bird began as playful children's talk: dicky is a small, friendly-sounding word and bird is the animal, so it gives the image of a 'little' bird. That's why people use it especially when adults speak to children.