jailbird

Questions

What does jailbird mean?

A prisoner or an ex-prisoner.

Where does jailbird come from?

From jail + bird, circa 1600. Compare gallows bird.

How to pronounce jailbird

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “jailbird”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “jailbird”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “jailbird” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.