blackbird etymology

Etymology:

• Old English: blacbrird ("black bird")
• Proto-Germanic: *blaka-wrana ("black crow")
• Proto-Indo-European: *bhlākos-wr̥nā- ("dark-colored crow")

Meaning:

• A small black songbird of the thrush family (genus Turdus) with a yellow beak and a distinctive song.
• Figuratively, any small black bird.
• (Poetic) A symbol of sadness or misfortune.

Origin:

The word "blackbird" first appeared in the English language around the 10th century, during the Old English period. It is a compound of two Old English words:

• "blac" (black): This word is derived from the Proto-Germanic *blaka-, which is itself derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *bhel-, meaning "dark" or "shining."
• "brird" (bird): This word is related to the Proto-Germanic *wrana-, meaning "crow" or "raven." It is ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *wr̥nā-, which means "to make a noise."

Over time, the meaning of "blackbird" has evolved to refer specifically to the small black songbirds of the thrush family. However, the word can still be used more generally to refer to any small black bird.

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