gallows-bird

English

Noun

gallows-bird (plural gallows-birds)

1. Alternative form of gallows bird
   • 1862, Victor Hugo, Les Miserables:

     He had been seen to arrive by the way of the boulevard Gassendi and roam about the streets in the gloaming. A gallows-bird with a terrible face.

   • 1903, Stephen Crane, Robert Barr, The O'Ruddy:

     "And you would be a highwayman, would you, gallows-bird—" began the Countess.

   • 1926, Stanley Hart Cauffman, The Ghost of Gallows Hill, page 111:

     Well, I see no reason why every gallows-bird in the district should wear out the King's gaol before his time; so you can wait until you're ready to hang, and I'll promise you'll have the same cell as the late dear departed.

   • 1989, John B. Sanford, A Walk in the Fire:

     Small wonder, then, that at this juncture my mind should be drawn to you, but be assured, sir, that I hold you to be more than a mere gallows-bird, more than my fellow following four years behind.