rusty blackbird

noun

variants or rusty grackle

: a blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) of the eastern U.S. whose adult male has a white iris and a uniformly blue-black color in spring but in the fall has the edges of the feathers become rusty

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!