[Vwoolf] bird

[Stuart N. Clarke]

Yes, but it's a tricky one.  Here is Orwell using it in the modern sense and 
Scott in the old:

1816   Scott Old Mortality xii, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. IV. 270 
‘Peggy, my bonny bird,’..addressing a little girl of twelve years old.

1915   P. MacGill Amateur Army v. 62   There's another bird there—and 
cawfee!

1927   W. E. Collinson Contemp. Eng. 96   Bird (used like Ger. Biene 
especially for a more flirtatious or less reputable type of girl).

1935   ‘G. Orwell’ Clergyman's Daughter ii. 161   He kept a sharp eye open 
for the ‘birds’.

You'd have to look at the OED for further info.  Mrs. D. is hardly a "bird" 
in the modern sense.

Stuart


-----Original Message----- 
From: omolly at satx.rr.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 12:13 PM
To: vwoolf at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: [Vwoolf] bird


Isn't "bird" cockney slang for a woman? Molly Hoff

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