bird dog

See synonyms for bird dog on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. one of any of various breeds of dogs trained to hunt or retrieve birds.

  2. Informal. a person hired to locate special items or people, especially a talent scout who seeks out promising athletes.

  1. Slang. a person who steals another person's date.

Origin of bird dog

1
An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

Other definitions for bird-dog (2 of 2)

bird-dog
[ burd-dawg, -dog ]

verb (used with object),bird-dogged, bird-dog·ging.Informal.
  1. to follow, watch carefully, or investigate.

  2. to seek out.

verb (used without object),bird-dogged, bird-dog·ging.
  1. Informal. to follow or watch carefully.

  2. Slang. to steal or attempt to steal another person's date.

Origin of bird-dog

2
v. use of bird dog

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use bird dog in a sentence

  • His bird-dog lay on the mat outside the door and sprang forward with a joyous whine to meet him.

    The Sins of the Father | Thomas Dixon
  • Then he takes a rapid horse, a zealous bird dog and an improved double barrel duck destroyer and communes with nature.

    Remarks | Bill Nye

British Dictionary definitions for bird dog

bird dog

/ US and Canadian /


noun
  1. hunting a dog used or trained to retrieve game birds after they are shot

verbbird-dog -dogs, -dogging or -dogged
  1. informal to control closely with unceasing vigilance

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012