butcher-bird

 

noun

  • 1a shrike (family Laniidae), which impales its prey on thorns.
  • 2a crow-like predatory Australasian songbird, with a heavy hook-tipped bill. Compare with magpie (sense 2).
    • Family Cracticidae: three genera, in particular Cracticus, and several species

Origin:

mid 17th century: from its habit of impaling its prey on thorns