yardbird

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A chicken.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

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

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A person who is imprisoned.

Register: slang

Sources & notes

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

Sense 3

Meaning · English

A soldier who is required to perform menial work on the grounds of a military base.

Register: slang

Sources & notes

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

Common questions

What does “yardbird” mean?

A chicken.

Is “yardbird” formal or informal?

yardbird is generally slang.