1A person who stays in or about the house; (in early use) a cowardly or unadventurous person; (later) a woman who devotes herself to domestic duties (now rare).
2Any bird that nests in or about a house or other building.
Origin
Early 17th century.
Definition of house bird in US English:
house bird
noun
1A person who stays in or about the house; (in early use) a cowardly or unadventurous person; (later) a woman who devotes herself to domestic duties (now rare).
2Any bird that nests in or about a house or other building.