redbird

English

Etymology

From red +‎ bird.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛdbəːd/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Noun

redbird (plural redbirds)

1. (Canada, US) Any of several unrelated American songbirds having red plumage, especially the tanager or cardinal. [from 17th c.]
   • 1970, Donald Harington, Lightning Bug:

     Then she chanced to look up and catch sight of a redbird in a tree.

2. (slang) A capsule of secobarbital. [from 20th c.]

   Synonyms: red, red devil

   • 1952 October 13, Richard L. Williams, “‘To sleep: perchance…’”, in Life, volume 33, number 15, page 110:

     Nearly every pharmaceutical house has its own brands, sold in tablets, solutions or brightly-colored capsules, on which its “detail men” keep doctors informed. Probably the most popular successors to Veronal are Seconal (“red birds” to the bootleg trade) and Nembutal ("yellow jackets").

3. Any of various red cars formerly used in the New York City subway system; or a train of such cars.

Further reading

• redbird on Wikipedia.Wikipedia