snowbird

[ snoh-burd ]

noun

1. any of various birds that winter in a cold, snowy climate, especially the dark-eyed junco and the snow bunting.
2. Informal. a person who vacations in or moves to a warmer climate during cold weather:

   Since 9/11, the ease with which Canadian snowbirds cross the U.S. border has changed.

3. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. a person addicted to cocaine or heroine:

   The cocaine addiction of pre-talkies film star Alma Rubens earned her the unfortunate nickname “Silent Snowbird.”

snowbird

/ ˈsnəʊˌbɜːd /

noun

1. See snow bunting
   another name for the snow bunting
2. slang.
   a person addicted to cocaine, or sometimes heroin

Word History and Origins

Origin of snowbird¹

First recorded in 1665–75; snow (in the sense “precipitation; snowflake”) + bird; 1910–15 snowbird fordef 3, with snow (in the sense “cocaine or heroin”)

Example Sentences

They were snowbirds who hadn’t quite made it back north for the summer and year-round residents hunkered down for South Florida’s stickiest months.

From Washington Post

This is common “Black and White Snowbird” of the east, and is the same as above, but darker and does not have any white wing bars.

From Project Gutenberg

He had remembered the Snowbird, fretting its high spirit out within the closed paddock, and a daring notion had seized him.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet still there was no sign of the Snowbird along the horizon, nor any point discernible where an Indian encampment might be.

From Project Gutenberg

The Snowbird stood saddled for many days: yet it was only upon errands of hospitality and charity that he was needed.

From Project Gutenberg

One of its German names, Schneevogel (snowbird), was evidently given in this belief.

From Project Gutenberg