nine-killer

Questions

What does nine-killer mean?

The northern shrike (Lanius borealis).

Where does nine-killer come from?

The bird was believed to kill and impale on thorns nine birds, etc., in succession.

How to pronounce nine-killer

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “nine-killer”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “nine-killer”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “nine-killer” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.