12 Days of Wordlady: Calling birds

 

"Bird" in Old English meant only the young of feathered creatures, like "kitten" for cats. The generic word for feathered things was "fowl". By about Chaucer's time "bird" was being used to mean not only young fowl, but also small adult fowl, until finally it supplanted "fowl" almost entirely. For a while before this happened, "bird" was also used for the young of other animals and even of humans. In fact, it was a quite respectful synonym for a young girl. So we have a 1300s quotation referring to the Virgin Mary as a "bird". Quite incongruous to our ears! 

As well as changing in meaning, "bird" changed in form. Originally the word was "brid". But, just as "thrid" became "third" by metathesis (for more on this, see this post: http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2012/04/friday-threeteenth.html), "brid" was metathesized into "bird" in the north of England and gradually worked its way down to the south, taking over by about 1400.

In the Christmas carol, the "calling" birds were originally "colly" birds, meaning they were black. This word derived from "coal", originally designating something black with coal dust or soot. 


For why we write "twelfth" rather than "twelvth":
http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2015/01/12-days-of-wordlady-twelfth-day.html

For pipers, click here:
http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2015/01/12-days-of-wordlady-pipers.html 

For lords a-leaping:
http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2015/01/12-days-of-wordlady-lords-leaping.html  

For why I'm not the Word Wench:
http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2014/12/12-days-of-wordlady-nine-ladies-dancing.html

For why milkmaids work in a dairy rather than a milkery:
http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2014/12/12-days-of-wordlady-8-maids-milking.html

For what swans have to do with singing, click here: 
http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2014/12/12-days-of-wordlady-swans-swimming.html


Why we don't say "gooses" and "gooselings: 
http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2014/12/12-days-of-wordlady-geese-laying.html


For why we don't say "fiveth", "fiveteen", and "fivety", click here: 
http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2014/12/12-days-of-wordlady-fifth-day.html  


For turtle-doves, click here: http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2014/12/12-days-of-wordlady-turtle-doves.html

For what partridges have to do with farting, click here:
http://katherinebarber.blogspot.ca/2013/12/12-days-of-wordlady-partridge.html

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