Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

yardbird

/ˈjɑɹd.bɝd/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.46 in modern English

Syllables: yard-bird
IPA: /ˈjɑɹd.bɝd/

15

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

American usage; Slang

noun

A person who is imprisoned.

American usage; Slang

noun

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

American usage; Slang

Example Sentences

"The working convict is a rare exception, sometimes envied because his time is occupied, sometimes derided for his deviance from the yardbird norm."
"As the Marines expanded to war strength, Lou Diamond was the ideal liaison between crusty old-timers and impressionable recruits. He taught quick action by threats of yardbird detail."

Etymology

From yard + bird. Attested since 1956 in the sense of ‘convict,’ derived from the idea of prison yards. During World War II, it meant ‘basic trainee’ among the armed forces.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈjɑɹd.bɝd/
British English: /ˈjɑːd.bəːd/

Usage

American usage
Slang

Inflected Forms

yardbirds (plural) yard bird (alternative)

Synonyms

convict con inmate yard bird

Questions

How do you pronounce yardbird?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈjɑɹd.bɝd/.
What does yardbird mean?: A chicken.
Where does yardbird come from?: From yard + bird. Attested since 1956 in the sense of ‘convict,’ derived from the idea of prison yards. During World War II, it meant ‘basic trainee’ among the armed forces.

How to pronounce yardbird

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “yardbird”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈjɑɹd.bɝd/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “yardbird”.
Repeat and practice — Say “yardbird” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.