yardbird

/ˈjɑːd.bəːd/

Etymology

From yard + bird. Attested since 1956 in the sense of ‘convict,’ derived from the idea of prison yards. During World War II, it meant ‘basic trainee’ among the armed forces.

noun

  1. A chicken.
  2. A person who is imprisoned.“The working convict is a rare exception, sometimes envied because his time is occupied, sometimes derided for his deviance from the yardbird norm.”
  3. A soldier who is required to perform menial work on the grounds of a military base.“As the Marines expanded to war strength, Lou Diamond was the ideal liaison between crusty old-timers and impressionable recruits. He taught quick action by threats of yardbird detail.”