Birdcry

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The sound a bird makes when it calls out, often a sharp or piercing note used to signal or communicate
2. A vocal noise produced by a bird, such as a song, chirp, or shriek heard in the open air or woods
3. The characteristic call uttered by a bird, which may serve to warn, attract a mate, or mark territory

Etymology: "Birdcry" is a plain compound of "bird" and "cry," and its history is straightforward. "Bird" comes from Old English "brid," originally meaning a young bird or nestling, and "cry" comes from Old French "crier," from Latin "quiritare," a word for wailing or calling out. The two were joined in English to name the call or song a bird makes. The compound is transparent, so its interest lies mainly in how it fits English word-formation. Many animal sounds have their own nouns, but "birdcry" is a descriptive formation that simply pairs the creature with the act of crying out, the same pattern found in words like "bird-song" and "bird-call."

Synonyms: birdcall