gallows-bird

plural gallows-birds

1. alternativeAlternative form of gallows bird.

   "And you would be a highwayman, would you, gallows-bird—" began the Countess.

   1903, Stephen Crane, Robert Barr, The O'Ruddy

   3 more examples

   He had been seen to arrive by the way of the boulevard Gassendi and roam about the streets in the gloaming. A gallows-bird with a terrible face.

   1862, Victor Hugo, Les Miserables

   Well, I see no reason why every gallows-bird in the district should wear out the King's gaol before his time; so you can wait until you're ready to hang, and I'll promise you'll have the same cell as the late dear departed.

   1926, Stanley Hart Cauffman, The Ghost of Gallows Hill, page 111

   Small wonder, then, that at this juncture my mind should be drawn to you, but be assured, sir, that I hold you to be more than a mere gallows-bird, more than my fellow following four years behind.

   1989, John B. Sanford, A Walk in the Fire