butcherbird
Syllabification: (butch·er·bird)
Pronunciation: /ˈbo͝oCHərˌbərd/
Definition of butcherbird
noun
- 2a crowlike predacious 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