Middle English Dictionary Entry
brid n.
Entry Info
Forms | brid n. Also bred & bird, berd, burd, bord. Pl. briddes & birdes, etc. |
Etymology | OE brid, briddas & bird the young of a bird (prob. akin to OE ge)byrd birth, offspring). In ME, brid predominates until c1475. bird is not attested until 1419 and occurs before 1450 chiefly in Northern MSS, but it must be old. The earlier meaning, 'young (of a bird, etc.)', is current throughout the ME period. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
(a) A bird of any kind; briddes and bestes; (b) brid of prai, a bird of prey; ~ of gentris, a noble bird; ~ of plesaunce, a bird used in the sport of hunting; feld ~, wild fowl; (c) a bird as food.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)63 : Þe riche reoðeren..þe poure cwike briddes.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)36a : Þeo briddes fleoð wel þe habbeð..& feole fiðeren.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)41b : Spearewe is a chiterinde brid.
- c1325 Byrd one brere (KC Muniments 2.W.32)1 : Bryd one brere, brid, brid one brere..blid-ful biryd, on me þu rewe!
- a1350 Lenten ys come (Hrl 2253)2 : Wiþ blosmen ant wiþ briddes roune.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)23 : Briddes ful bremely on þe bowes singe.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.34.5 : Diuynyng bi chiteryng of briddis..is vanyte.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2929 : How the beestes and the briddes alle Fledden for fere.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.79 : In Ynde is a brede þat is i-cleped phitacus.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.223 : He fondede forto flee as a bridde wiþ wynges.
- c1390 Bi west (Vrn)13 : Merci was in þat Briddes muynde, But þerof kneuȝ þe Hauk non.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1728 : As an oule fleth by nyhte Out of alle othre briddes syhte.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.3095 : Thei ben schapen into briddes Swimmende upon the wawe amiddes.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1865 : No lyues creature, Be it of fissh or bryd or beest or man.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)334b/a : Pypynge bigyleþ briddes & foules.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)95/15 : Dokis & alle greete briddis þat lyuen in watri placis.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.279 : Antony..had a bridde þat brouȝte hym bred.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)93 : Quen þose bryddez her wyngez bete.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)288 : Fro bryddez to fyschez.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)746 : Mony bryddez..Þat pitosly þer piped for pyne of þe colde.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Deut.14.12 : Alle clene briddis eete ȝe; vnclene eete ȝe not.
- a1425(a1396) Maidstone PPs. (Wht)94 : Thei þat ben in lustes long doon no better than beest or bridde.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)620 : The mavys and the nyghtyngale, And other joly briddis smale.
- a1425 By a forest (Bod 596)7 : I fond there breddes with fedres schene.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)157/8 : The grete Chane..hath..bryddes, as Ostrycches..Popyngayes wel spekynge, and briddes syngynge.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)176/5 : Trees þat baren a fruyt þat becomen briddes fleeynge.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)527 : Assented were to this conclusioun The briddes alle; and foules of ravyne Han chosen fyrst.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)175 : Fowlyn or take byrdys: Aucupor.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)127 : The birdis one the bewes.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2510 : Byrdez gan synge.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)705 : The bird ansuerde.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)2437 : Bestes and briddes..ben ymakid tame.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)365/193 : Birdis hase ther nestis.
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)23 : Yet wol I, in my briddes wise, synge..the compleynt.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)503 : Þen come þar-in a litill brid into his arme floȝe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11788 : Sacrifise..with bestis & briddes.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)103/36 : He þat techeþ breddes synge.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)181/30 : Þe bred fleeþ euere-more from þennes, þat men brekeþ his nest and bereþ awey his eieren.
- c1450 Lychefelde Comp.G.(Lamb 853)399 : Fischis, beestis, briddis of þe eir..ech þing haþ his bewte.
- c1450 in Owst Lit.& Pulpit39 : Ȝiff a birde be taken in a nette.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)71/12 : Þer was a burd þat was lernyd to speke.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)55 : There hadde be no fisshe in water, beest on erth, bridde in the eyre.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)39/132 : Of byrd and of beste take, as I þe tolde, A peyr.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)2.141 : Tyll þe blessid bredd brodid his wyngis To couere hem from colde.
- (c1475) Stonor1.153 : For byrdys.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)14a : A Byrde: aliger, ales, auis, auicula, praepes, volucris, volatile.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)58 : The brid þat sang so murely..is þi conscience.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)561 : Thei herde the songe of the fowles and briddes.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)309a/a : Briddes of pray.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)33a/b : Þe flesches..of feeld briddes [L auiculis campestribus].
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.1208 : She berith birdes of plesauns or [read: on] hir fiste.
- a1500 Who carpys (Trin-C O.9.38)p.27 : Who carpys of byrddys of grete jentrys, The sperhawke [etc.].
c
- ?c1425 Arun.Cook.Recipes (Arun 334)425 : Do therto smale briddes, and seth hom.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)181 : Wynlyche bryddes, Pacokes and plouers, in platers of golde.
- c1450(c1353) Winner & W.(Add 31042)348 : Birdes bownn one a broche riche..Larkes and lyngwhittes, lapped in sogoure.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4435 : Ȝoure mawis ȝe fill, With bakin mete & with briddis bolnes ȝoure paunches.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.36 : Oþer smalle bryddes..as osel, smityng, laveroc gray, pertryk, werkok.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)12 : Quales, gret birdes..cold bak mete.
1b.
The representation of a bird (as embroidered on cloth).
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)610 : Enbrawden..wyth þe best gemmez..& bryddez on semez.
- (1419) *Will Buryf.155 : A couerlyth with grene byrdys.
- (1423) Will York in Sur.Soc.4405 : j lectus laneus cum rede birds.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)836 : In samet, with briddis wrought..His body was clad.
- (1432) Rec.St.Mary at Hill26 : A white vestement..with briddes & grefons of gold.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)367 : Hir belle was of plonkete, withe birdis fulle baulde.
- (1444) Will Daubeney in Som.RS 19341 : A hangyng bede of Bryddis.
- (1447) Indent.Oxf.in RS 50.2566 : l coverlyt..wyth birdys and flowris.
- (1448) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1213 : ij copes the grond of rede Sylk wt white Byrdes.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1532 : Riche wedis..Fulle of bridis & of bestis of bise & of purpre.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)166 : Þe cloth..Wyth..flowres and bryddes on ylke a syde.
1c.
Proverbs and sayings: (a) blithe (jolif, light) as brid, gay as a bird; (b) on beteth the bush, another has brid; (c) a brid in honde, etc.; (d) miscellaneous.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)303 : Gentil and iolif as brid on ris.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2703 : Mor jolif than the brid in Maii.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)3035 : He was blyth as bryde on bogh.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)814 : His hert was evir mery, ryȝt as þe somer bridd.
- a1500 By thys fyre (Dgb 88)p.62 : I here the fowlis synge..I am as lyght as byrde in bowe.
b
- c1450 Dc.Prov.(Dc 52)47 : On betyth þe buske, a-noþer hathe brydde.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)111/83 : Many a man doth bete þe bow, Another man hath þe brydde.
- c1475 Rwl.Prov.(Rwl D.328)118 : On betyt the broscus, another hath þe bordys.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)6022 : On the bushe bettes one, A nothere man hathe the byrde.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)4524 : Some bete the bussh, and some the byrdes take.
c
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)2.250 : It is more sekyr a byrd in your fest, Than to haue three in þe sky above.
- c1475 Rwl.Prov.(Rwl D.328)119 : Hyt ys better a byrd yn hon' than' iiij with-owyt.
d
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)109 : The birde that flieth so ofte abowte the glewe that he lesyth his feddris.
- c1450 Cato(2) (Sid 63)164 : Þe pipe chaunteth merili, þe while þe fouler þe briddis wil begile.
- a1500(?a1410) Lydg.CB (Lnsd 699)374 : A childis brid and a knaves wyff Have oft[e] sithe gret sorwe & myschaunce.
2.
(a) A winged insect, such as a bee; (b) a fabulous winged creature, such as the Phoenix, a Harpy, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.317 : In Sicilia..Þere beeþ also cicade bryddes [Higd.(2): gressehoppers; L cicadae alatae] þat syngeþ..better whan þe hede is offe þan while it is onne.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)271a/b : [The bees] strengþiþ here huyues..aȝeins coueytise and rees of oþere smale briddes [L bestiarum].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.11.3 : A bee is litil among briddis [WB(1): foules; L volatilibus].
b
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3290 : He Arpies slow, the cruel briddes felle.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)148a/a : Fenix is a bridde wiþ oute make and lyueþ þre hundred or fyue hundred ȝere.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.872 : Þe knyȝtes of þis Dyomede..To forme of briddes wern anon transmwed..And called ben..briddes of Dyomede.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.3.19 : The godhede of Mercurie, that is cleped the bridd of Arcadye, hath had merci of the duc Ulixes.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)23.446 : A wondirful brid..His brest lik a lyown..His feet like an Egle.
3a.
(a) The young of a bird, fledgling, nestling, chick; (b) the young of other animals; (c) a babe or child.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)543 : Pullus: chiken, uel brid, uel fole.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1260 : Cullfre..fedeþþ oþerr cullfress bridd All alls itt wære hire aȝhenn.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)49 : Duue..fedeð briddes, þeh hie ne ben noht hire.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)37a : Nan attri þing ne mai..hwil he is i þe nest, hearmin his briddes.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)644 : Mi nest is holȝ & rum amidde, So hit is softest mine bridde.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)660 : Wið oðre briddes ge doð as moder; so og ur ilk to don wið oðer.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3673 : Wanne hor briddes rype beþ.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.38.14 : As the brid [L pullus] of a swalewe, so I shal crien.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)265b/b : Þe briddes oþer eyren of sparwes falleþ of here nestes doun to þe grounde.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)325a/b : Whanne þe schelle is y broke and þe brid comeþ out.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.348 : Some troden her makes And brouȝten forth her bryddes so.
- c1400 Wycl.LAChurch [OD col.] (Dub 244)p.xxxv : Þere was a stork hadde a berd.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Deut.22.6 : A nest of briddis thou fyndist, and the moder to the bryddis or to the eyren aboue sittynge.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Lev.12.6 : Sche schal brynge a lomb of o ȝeer in to brent sacrifice, and a bryd [L pullum] of a culuer.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)11b : Byrd may nought se till þe moder brynge of that erbe and tuche hir eyne þere wiþe.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)192 : On every bow the bryddes herde I synge..Some besyede hem, here bryddes forth to brynge.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)49 : Bredynge or brodynge of birdys: Ebrocacio, focio.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.618 : The cok his eyron and his briddis hateth.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)48/17 : Tak þe schelles of geese egges..þat birdis hase bene in.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)1759 : A sparow fedynge hyr bryddes she seye.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)23.534 : Be the hete of hire body..Hire briddes sche bringeth forth.
- a1450 Forest Laws (Dc 335)242 : Her eiron or her berdes.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)251/14 : A turtyl also puttyth here bryddes in a priue place.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)69/30 : He keped theym, as the hen did hir byrdes vndre hir weng, from all evyll neghboures.
- c1475 A philosophre (Hrl 372)p.40 : His wife..Wolde have be fed, as brid in the nest.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)370 : The puttok..houyd ouer the henne and hire briddes.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)105/7 : An henne, whanne sche sittes to bryng forth bryddes.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)110/11 : Brenne eg-shellys þat bryddys haf ben in.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)144b/a : In rayny ȝeres many been beþ I bradde..in temporat ȝeres briddes of been [L pulli apium] beþ fewe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)149b/b : Fisshe loueth here childerne & fedeth..& kepith here owne briddes [L pullos], oute take frogges.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mat.23.33 : Ȝe eddris and eddris briddis [WB(1): fruytis..of eddris; L genimina viperarum].
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)18 : Þe serpent enterid hire owne place and dwelte stille with hire briddes.
c
- (?c1375-a1390) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3604 : In prisoun..with hym been hise litel children thre..it was greet crueltee Swiche briddes for to putte in swich a cage.
- c1390 Disp.Virg.& Cross (Vrn)66 : Wiþ my brestes my brid I fed.
- a1500 Amis (Dc 326)15 : The berdes [Suth: Þe children bold of chere].
- a1500 This louely lady (BodPoet e.1)p.107 : That lovely lady..to hyr chyld sayd..'My swete byrd!'
3b.
(a) As a term of endearment: sweetheart; (b) as a term of disparagement: a wretch, a fiend; lither ~, warlau ~, develes ~, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3699 : What do ye, honycomb, swete Alisoun, My faire bryd, me swete cynamome?
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3726 : Lemman, thy grace! and, swete bryd, thyn oore!
b
- c1300 SLeg.Judas (Hrl 2277)1 : Iudas was a liþer brid þat ihesu solde to Rode.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.195 : The briddes of helle shul deuouren hem.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22381 : Anticrist..þat ilk warlau bridd [Frf: brid; Göt: brede].
- a1450 Spaldyng Katereyn þe curteys (BodR 22)p.541 : With hire bawmyng of blis þo briddus sche brogth tame..Bothe quene & knyȝt be name so To cristen beleue.
- a1500 Methodius(3) (Stw 953)812 : Þan xall cum..Antecryst, þe deuelys byrde.
4.
Associated quotations
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)49a : Raise vp thy burdes out of theire nest, And after bringe them agayne to rest.
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)52b : Our Sulphur & Mercurye..some men..calles Foules and Burdes, with other names many one, Bycause that foles should never know our stone.
5.
Cpds. (a) ~ bolt, a bolt for shooting birds; ~ broche, ~ spit, a spit for roasting birds; ~ conjurer, ~ diviner, an augur; ~ lim, birdlime; (b) brid(des-nest, the wild carrot Daucus carota; briddes tonge, the pimpernel, prob. burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga; also, the greater stitchwort Stellaria holostea; also one of the larkspurs, perhaps forking larkspur Consolida regalis; (c) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Jer.27.9 : Brid deuyneres [L augures] and deuel cleperes.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Deut.18.14 : Thes gentils..brydd coniuerers and dyuynours heren.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)69b/b : Viscus: bridlyme or glewe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)54a/a : Visci quercini i. bridlyme made of ooke.
- (1425) Doc.in Kennett Par.Antiq.(1818) [OD col.]2.253 : In i lib. de byrdlyme.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)50 : Brydbolt or burdebolt: Epitilium.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)32/58 : Seith it right wele, till it be ropynge as brid lyme.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)7 : Take a bryd spytte & bryn hym.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)96/2 : As thikke as glew or as brydlym.
- (?1474) Stonor1.147 : j grete broche, j medulle broche, j byrde broche.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13683 : Lyk a bryd..engluyd with bryd-lym.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)703 : Hic viscus: a byrdlyme.
b
- a1300 Hrl.978 Vocab.(Hrl 978)557 : Pinpernele: pinpre, i. briddestunge.
- (?a1390) Daniel *Herbal (Add 27329)f.107rb : Lingua auis: pigla, herba totam; briddis tungge, pigil, crampwort, or schotwort: this herbe hatz smale long leues, scharp beforn lyk a briddis tungge; grene it is of mikil migth, drie noon.
- (?a1390) Daniel *Herbal (Add 27329)f.107vb : Lingua auis: consolida regia; briddis tungge, kinges consoude. If it be coct in reyn water & euery day drunk, it helpeth þe sifac broste without cuttyng, if also emplaster strictorie be leyd to withoute.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)149/20 : Daucus asininus is an herbe þat men clepe bryddys neste [vr. brydneste] or tauke.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)18a : Daucus asminis. Dauke is an erbe þat sum men calliþ birdis nest.
- a1500 Agnus Castus (LdMisc 553)197/36 : Pjgula maior is an herbe þat me clepuþ..pygle or stichewort or bryddes tonge.
c
- (1275) Hundred R.Tower 2150a : Rob[ertus] Bridebek.
- (1298) Pat.R.Edw.I379 : Henry Bryddetung.
- (?1327) Sub.R.Lei.in AASRP 19.2225 : Johannes Briddesmouth.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 MS Arun 272 in Halliwell D.850 : Brydswete or tank [read: tauk]. Hit hath leves lyke to hemlok and a quite flower. The vertu therof is that hit [is] gud to hele the dropey and bytynge of venemes bestus.
Note: New compound.
Note: This quot. belongs to sense 5.(b).
Note: Modify existent compound and gloss "brid(des-nest, the wild carrot (Daucus carota)":
brid(des-nest, ~ swete or perh. briddes wete (?error for brid)des-nest), the wild carrot (Daucus carota).
- a1450 Dur-CRO.Bk.Hawking (Dur-CRO Roll D/X/76/7)26/90 : When þu come þer, tak þi fesaunt and lat a man sit in a buse with þi fesaunt a litill fro þin hawke als fer as þu may schote a brid-bolt.
Note: Additional quot. for sense 5.(a) (for compound ~ bolt).
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)239/5 : Trewly birdes raueners, when þei die, þei be cast awey vppon þe myddynges as no þinge of valew, bot þe birdes þat þei dud þer raueeyn too ben born to lordes tables.
Note: New collocation for sense 1.(b).
Note: Gloss: briddes ravinour, a bird of prey, predatory bird.
- a1500 Terms Assoc.(4) (Dgb 196)232 : A pype of bryddes.
Note: New sense for sense 1a.(d).
Note: Gloss: (d) as term of association: a pipe of briddes, a flock of birds.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1300 Add.15236 Recipes(1) (Add 15236)225.1 : Pocio pro plagis curandis: Accipe..summitates veprium rubeorum..millefolium, linguam avis, i. bridistunge vel stichewrt.
Note: Additional quot. for sense 5.(b) (for collocation briddes tonge).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.92rb (3.6) : 'Viscus' is birdlym and þerof comeþ 'viscosus' (anglice: ropand and cleuand togedre).
Note: Antedates cpd., sense 5.(a). ?Perh. expand birdlime def. Editor's gloss: 'sticky substance spread on twigs for catching birds'. Cf. OED bird-lime, n.