gaol-bird
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who is or has been confined in prison: "gaol-bird" refers to an individual who is an inmate of a jail or has been imprisoned, often with a connotation of being a habitual criminal.
- A rogue or scoundrel: In informal usage, "gaol-bird" can describe a person regarded as disreputable or lawless, akin to a vagabond or villain.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The old gaol-bird was released after serving ten years for theft. (A person who was a long-term prisoner.)
- He’s nothing but a gaol-bird; he’s been in and out of prison since his youth. (A habitual criminal or rogue.)
Advanced Usage
- "Gaol-bird" is an alternative spelling of "jailbird," where "gaol" is the British English variant of "jail." It is less common in modern American English but appears in historical or British contexts.
- The novel features a gaol-bird who reforms after meeting a kind stranger. (A former prisoner who changes their ways.)
Variants and Related Words
Jailbird (n): the more common spelling, especially in American English, meaning the same as "gaol-bird."
- The jailbird was known for his cunning escapes. (A prisoner with a reputation for evading capture.)
Gaoler (n): a person who guards a prison (British English).
- The gaoler kept a close eye on the gaol-bird. (The prison guard watched the inmate.)
Synonyms
- Convict: a person found guilty of a crime and sentenced to prison.
- Felon: someone who has committed a serious crime.
- Repeat offender: a person who repeatedly commits crimes and returns to prison.
Related Idioms
Bird in a gilded cage: a person who is trapped in a comfortable but restrictive situation (contrasts with "gaol-bird").
- She felt like a bird in a gilded cage, unlike the gaol-bird who longed for freedom. (She felt trapped in luxury, while the prisoner wanted liberty.)
Doing time: serving a prison sentence.
- The gaol-bird was doing time for robbery. (The inmate was serving a sentence.)