English Explanatory Dictionary

gallows bird

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A person who deserves, or is likely, to be hanged.

Word forms

gallows bird gallows birds gallows-bird gallowsbird

Etymology

From gallows + bird. Compare German construction Galgenvogel (literally “gallows-fowl" or "gallows-bird”), and French gibier de potence, as well as similar English jailbird.

Synonyms

hangdog wag-halter crack-hemp crack-rope gallows gallows bird hang dog hempie scapegallows slip-halter

Related words

jailbird die by hanging hangworthy kill by hanging
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