Bird-dog


one of any of various breeds of dogs trained to hunt or retrieve birds.
Informal. a person hired to locate special items or people, especially a talent scout who seeks out promising athletes.
Slang. a person who steals another person’s date.
to follow, watch carefully, or investigate.
to seek out.
Informal. to follow or watch carefully.
Slang. to steal or attempt to steal another person’s date.
Historical Examples

The Valley of the Giants Peter B. Kyne
The Heart of Canyon Pass Thomas K. Holmes
Baldy of Nome Esther Birdsall Darling
Baldy of Nome Esther Birdsall Darling
The Master Mystery Arthur B. Reeve and John W. Grey
The Fighting Chance Robert W. Chambers
Sunlight Patch Credo Fitch Harris
Children of the Desert Louis Dodge
A Busy Year at the Old Squire’s Charles Asbury Stephens
The Sins of the Father Thomas Dixon

noun
(hunting) a dog used or trained to retrieve game birds after they are shot
verb -dogs, -dogging, -dogged
(informal) to control closely with unceasing vigilance

A person, like a detective, talent scout, etc, whose job is to find something or someone (1930+)
A chaperon at a dance or a third person on a date, appointed to be vigilant (1930s+ Students)
A tactical officer, enforcing order and discipline (1930s+ Service academy)
A fighter or interceptor aircraft
An aircraft that spotted and marked targets (WWII Army Air Forces)
The automatic direction-finding instrument of an aircraft (1970s+ Airline)
A radar detector: The cop is sitting there with a bird dog (1970s+ Citizens band)

To act asa bird dog: Leo Browne was doing some ”bird-dogging” for the Yankees (1930+)
To seduce or go out with another girl’s boyfriend: Sorry to bird-dog you, but the guy asked me to the spring concert (1990s+ Teenagers)

Read Also:

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    seen from above, as by a bird in flight; panoramic: a bird’s-eye view of the city. omitting many details; hasty; superficial; general: a bird’s-eye view of ancient history. having spots or markings resembling the eyes of a bird: bird’s-eye tweed. any of various plants having small, round, bright-colored flowers, as a primrose, Primula farinosa, or […]

  • Bird-s-eye-maple

    a cut of sugar maple wood used especially for veneers, having a wavy grain with many dark, circular markings.

  • Bird-s-eye-primrose

    a hardy primrose, Primula farinosa, of alpine regions of Europe and Asia, having small, lilac-colored flowers with yellow throat and eye.

  • Bird-face

    bird face

  • Bird-farm

    an aircraft carrier.


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