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  1. What is the origin of BrEng ‘bird’ meaning “young woman”?

    Dec 20, 2014 · Modern slang meaning "young woman" is from 1915, and probably arose independently of the older word. As early as 1300, bird was used for ‘girl’, but this was …

  2. Why Are Women Called Birds: Understanding the Cultural and ...

    Feb 21, 2025 · The term “bird” for women originated from early 20th-century British slang, evolving into a playful and affectionate nickname. Calling women “birds” symbolizes freedom …

  3. What Does It Mean to Call a Girl a Bird? Origins & Usage ...

    Sep 27, 2025 · In British slang, when people call a girl a “bird,” they usually mean she’s a young woman or a girlfriend. Sometimes it sounds playful or affectionate, but honestly, it can come …

  4. Why do they call English girls birds? - The Dogman

    Apr 10, 2025 · While "birds" was originally used as a slang term to describe women in a derogatory way, it has evolved over time to become a more endearing term. Today, many …

  5. Why Are Women Called Birds - The Bird Identifier

    Comparing women to birds is a metaphor that has been around for centuries. While the idea of being light and free like a bird might sound appealing, it’s not always used in a positive way.

  6. Why do lots of men refer to women as “birds”?

    Apr 5, 2018 · It’s interesting that everyone (including me) has been associating this use of “bird” with young women/girls. But it occurs to me that it’s probably more relevant in relation to the …

  7. Why are English girls referred to as birds? | Pet Reader

    Apr 16, 2023 · The term “birds” is a slang term commonly used in England to refer to women. The term has been used for centuries and its origin can be traced back to the connection between …

  8. Why do they call English girls birds? - Answers

    Jun 27, 2024 · The name "owl" is derivative of the bird's call, a hoot or "howl" (stereotypically "whoo").The Old English name for the birds was ule, from the Germanic uwwa.The word …

  9. Women & Birds in The AnswerBank: Phrases & Sayings

    May 22, 2007 · In Chaucer the word byrd meant a woman and the word fowle a bird. Women were birds before our feathered friends. 'Bird' - sometimes spelt 'brid' - meant the young of our …

  10. Idiom Origins - Bird - History of Bird

    Although ‘bird’ is current British slang for a girl or woman, it is far from new. It has been used in this sense from at least the 14th century.