jailbird

J8A1I1L1B3I1R1D2

noun

A prisoner or an ex-prisoner.

Similar
yardbirdjail birdgaolbird
UncommonScrabble 18
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Meanings

nounjailbird (plural jailbirds)

plural jailbirds

  1. A prisoner or an ex-prisoner.

    Synonyms: yardbird

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA prisoner or an ex-prisoner.

Similar
yardbird

More synonyms by meaning

nouna criminal who has been jailed repeatedly

Similar
jail birdgaolbird
Broader
criminalfeloncrook
Also see
gaolbirdprisoner

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

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

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian затворник
  • затворник (zatvornik)prisoner or ex-prisoner
Danish vaneforbryder, recidivist
  • vaneforbryderprisoner or ex-prisoner
  • recidivistprisoner or ex-prisoner
  • fængselsfuglprisoner or ex-prisoner
Finnish vanki, entinen vanki
  • vankiprisoner or ex-prisoner
  • entinen vankiprisoner or ex-prisoner
  • vankilakundiprisoner or ex-prisoner
French taulard, taularde
  • taulardprisoner or ex-prisoner
  • taulardeprisoner or ex-prisoner
  • tôlardprisoner or ex-prisoner
  • tôlardeprisoner or ex-prisoner
German Knacki, Ex Knacki
  • Knackiprisoner or ex-prisoner
  • Ex Knackiprisoner or ex-prisoner
  • Knastbruderprisoner or ex-prisoner
  • Knastschwesterprisoner or ex-prisoner
  • Knastologeprisoner or ex-prisoner
  • Knastologinprisoner or ex-prisoner
  • Häftlingprisoner or ex-prisoner
  • Ex-Häftlingprisoner or ex-prisoner
Norwegian Bokmål fengselsfugl
  • fengselsfuglprisoner or ex-prisoner
Polish kryminalista
  • kryminalistaprisoner or ex-prisoner
Russian заключённый, заключённая
  • заключённый (zaključónnyj)prisoner or ex-prisoner
  • заключённая (zaključónnaja)prisoner or ex-prisoner
  • ареста́нт (arestánt)prisoner or ex-prisoner
  • ареста́нтка (arestántka)prisoner or ex-prisoner
  • рецидиви́ст (recidivíst)prisoner or ex-prisoner
  • у́рка (úrka)prisoner or ex-prisoner
Spanish presidiario, presidiario reincidente
  • presidiarioprisoner or ex-prisoner
  • presidiario reincidenteprisoner or ex-prisoner
  • reincidenteprisoner or ex-prisoner
Cite this entry
APA

jailbird. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jailbird

MLA

“jailbird.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jailbird. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “jailbird,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jailbird.

Source: jailbird on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.