/blak"berrd'/ , n.
1. a common European thrush, Turdus merula, the male of which is black with a yellow bill.
2. any of several American birds of the family Icteridae, having black plumage. Cf. crow blackbird, red-winged blackbird, rusty blackbird .
3. any of several other unrelated birds having black plumage in either or both sexes.
4. (formerly) a person, esp. a Kanaka, who was kidnapped and sold abroad, usually in Australia, as a slave.
v.t.
5. to kidnap (a person), as in blackbirding.
v.i.
6. to engage in blackbirding.
[ 1480-90; earlier blacke bride. See BLACK, BIRD ]