Lordbird

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A bird of noble, stately bearing, often named for its commanding appearance or proud manner
2. Any bird that is considered majestic or lordly, admired for its regal look and dignified carriage
3. A species of bird thought of as princely, distinguished by its grand presence and bearing

Etymology: Anyone who glimpsed the ivory-billed woodpecker in the American South could be forgiven for exclaiming "Lord God!" Its size and white bill made it startling, and the bird came to be called the "Lord God bird." "Lordbird" appears to be a shortened form of that name, though the exclamation story is traditional and hard to verify. The "lord" half goes back to Old English "hlaford," probably from "hlāf" (loaf) and a word for a keeper or guardian, so it originally meant something like "bread-keeper." Over time it came to mean a ruler or master, which gives the compound its grand sound. The "bird" half comes from Old English "brid," which first meant a young bird or nestling and only later covered birds in general.