Birded

/ˈbɜrdɪd/ verb

Definition

Past tense of 'bird' or 'birdie' in golf; either engaged in birdwatching or scored a birdie in golf.

Etymology

'Birded' is either the past tense of the modern verb 'to bird' (meaning to observe or hunt birds), or the past tense of 'birdie' as a golf term. The golf meaning emerged in the early 20th century when 'birdie' became golfing slang.

Kelly Says

The golf term 'birdie' (one stroke under par) supposedly came from a golfer in 1920s America saying 'That's a bird of a shot!' or 'birdie' meaning something small and excellent—it's one of the few sports terms where the etymology is fun but the exact origin story remains delightfully unclear.

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