firebird

[ fahyuhr-burd ]

noun

1. any of several small birds having bright red or orange plumage, especially the Baltimore oriole.

firebird

/ ˈfaɪəˌbɜːd /

noun

1. any of various songbirds having a bright red plumage, esp the Baltimore oriole

Word History and Origins

Origin of firebird¹

First recorded in 1815–25; fire + bird

Example Sentences

“I said, ‘If the birds had such kinship that when one of them died, so did the other one, then what did the second firebird lose?

From Literature

“Phoenix Rising,” which Giddens brings to Wolf Trap, is the first of many grand visions she has for the ensemble — and it’s not your standard firebird suite.

From Washington Post

Phil performance, which ended with Dudamel fantastically engulfing Disney in the complete “Firebird” ballet score, that mythical little firebird becoming yet another enchanted force of nature.

From Los Angeles Times

The outside of the van is black, but it has a firebird painted on the hood, with wings that turn to flames as they wrap around the sides.

From Literature

It ends: “soon enough, the christmas log / will expire, but the firebird shall not. / soon enough, no doubt, so shall i, / but our love will live on in the firebird.”

From Los Angeles Times