Jailbird: meaning, definitions and examples
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jailbird
[ ˈdʒeɪlˌbɜrd ]
slang term
A jailbird is a slang term for a person who has been imprisoned or is frequently in jail. It often implies a habitual offender who is used to being incarcerated.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- After his third conviction, he became known as a jailbird among the community.
- The local newspaper often features stories about jailbirds and their escapades.
- Her brother is a jailbird, always getting in trouble with the law.
Translations
Translations of the word "jailbird" in other languages:
🇵🇹 prisão
🇮🇳 जेल पक्षी
🇩🇪 Gefängnismensch
🇮🇩 burung penjara
🇺🇦 в'язень
🇵🇱 ptak więzienny
🇯🇵 囚人
🇫🇷 oiseau de prison
🇪🇸 pájaro de la cárcel
🇹🇷 hapishane kuşu
🇰🇷 감옥 새
🇸🇦 طائر السجن
🇨🇿 vězeň
🇸🇰 vták z väzenia
🇨🇳 监狱鸟
🇸🇮 zapornik
🇮🇸 fangelsisfugl
🇰🇿 түрме құсы
🇬🇪 კეთილი ფრინველი
🇦🇿 məhbus quşu
🇲🇽 pájaro de la cárcel
Etymology
The term 'jailbird' first appeared in the early 20th century, originating in American slang. The word 'jail' derives from the Old French 'jaiole', which means 'a cage' or 'a dungeon', and the word 'bird' in this context is a colloquial way of referring to a person, possibly influenced by the idea that a person is 'caged' like a bird in prison. The combination of the two words came to describe someone confined to jail, often implying a recurring or habitual pattern of criminal behavior. Over time, 'jailbird' has been used in both serious and humorous contexts, often highlighting the individual's repeated encounters with the law.