Standard Lemma guide

dicky-bird

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A small bird.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: familiar

Examples

  • The Swan and the Dickey-bird: A Fable.
  • Simple Simon went a hunting, He thought he could not fail, For to catch a Dickie Bird, For he’d got a little salt to put upon his tail.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A word; a brief chat.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, informal

Examples

  • We've not heard a dicky-bird about anything relating to his birthday.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A small thing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, informal

Examples

  • I peeked into the cellar but there was nothing there. Not a dicky-bird.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

small bird; adults talking to children sometimes use these words to refer to small birds

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dickeybird, dickey-bird, dickybird

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: bird

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.