Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- a sticky material prepared from holly, mistletoe, or other plants, and smeared on twigs to catch small birds that light on it.
verb (used with object), bird·limed, bird·lim·ing.
- to smear with birdlime.
- to catch or capture, as with birdlime: to be birdlimed by flattery.
noun
- a sticky substance, prepared from holly, mistletoe, or other plants, smeared on twigs to catch small birds
verb
- (tr) to smear (twigs) with birdlime to catch (small birds)
viscous sticky stuff prepared from holly bark and used to catch small birds, mid-15c., from bird (n.1) + lime (n.1). Used as rhyming slang for time (especially time in prison) by 1857.