dead bird

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A ball which falls over the infielders’ heads for a hit, as if it were a bird shot by a hunter.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Jones got on board with a dead bird to start the inning.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “dead bird” mean?

A ball which falls over the infielders’ heads for a hit, as if it were a bird shot by a hunter.

Is “dead bird” formal or informal?

dead bird is generally slang.