Birdie

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbɜː.di/

Definitions

1. A term used in golf to indicate a score that is one stroke below par while also referring to a small avian creature often seen in nature
2. This word signifies achieving a one-stroke advantage under par in golf as well as denoting a minor bird species
3. A golf term for scoring one stroke under the expected number ; a little feathered animal commonly found in nature

Etymology: The golf sense came first in the sporting world, and the bird sense is the older-looking one only by appearance. "Birdie" is simply "bird" with the diminutive suffix "-ie" attached, and it is a plain formation rather than a coinage with a famous author. The base word goes back to Old English "bridd," which originally meant a young bird or nestling before it came to mean birds in general, so the shrinking of the base's sense is part of the story. Attaching "-ie" to a word for a small creature is a familiar English habit, producing pet names and endearments that turn a bird into something cute and manageable. That affectionate tone is what makes the golf usage fit so neatly: a shot played one stroke under par was called a birdie, a small and pleasing success on the course.

Synonyms: small bird, fledgling