oof-bird

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English

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Etymology

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UK late 19th century–1910s.

Noun

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oof-bird (plural oof-birds)

  1. (dated, idiomatic, British slang) Any source or supplier of money.
    • 1888 December 27, The Sportsman:
      It is a sad and weary time for many, for when the dustman, the man who blacks the boots, and he with the grog-blossom on his nose who does nothing but hold cab-doors open when nobody asks him to have all been paid, the oof bird takes unto itself wings and flies away.
    • 1897, Richard Marsh, “The Picture”, in The Beetle:
      The probability is that he's a crackpot; and if he isn't, he has some little game on foot — in close association with the hunt of the oof-bird! — which he tried to work off on me, but couldn't'.
    • 1937 August 28, “The Oof-bird Feeds on Pennies”, in The Argus[1], page 36:
      If you make an oof-bird and feed him properly all the time, you will grow rich.
    • 2003, Peter Van Wyk, “The Call to Monomotapa”, in Burnham: King of Scouts, page 65:
      "I guess you're attracted to Africa by the lure of the Oof bird," Gifford said eagerly smearing a layer of orange marmalade on thick bread roasted over the campfire.

Synonyms

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Hyponyms

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References

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