birdie
BUR-dee
/ˈbɜːrdi/
A score of one stroke under par on a single hole.
A highly positive achievement in golf, representing excellent play on a hole.
The story behind the word. In late 19th-century American slang, the word 'bird' was used to describe anything exceptionally good or cool (similar to 'cool' or 'sweet' today). In 1899, at the Country Club of Atlantic City, golfer Abner Smith played a shot that landed inches from the cup and exclaimed, 'That was a bird of a shot!' His group began calling a score of one under par a 'birdie,' and the term quickly spread worldwide.
Word relationships
- one-under: One-under is a literal description of the score, while birdie is the traditional, colorful name.
- bogey: A bogey is one stroke over par, whereas a birdie is one stroke under par.
Commonly confused with
- eagle: An eagle is two strokes under par, while a birdie is only one stroke under par.
Word family
- birdies (noun): Plural form of birdie.
- birdied (verb): Past tense of birdie.
Collocations
- make a birdie
- score a birdie
- consecutive birdies
- putt for birdie
Example sentences
- "She sank a twenty-foot putt to secure a birdie on the final hole and win the tournament." A thrilling moment in a tournament.
- "He managed to birdie three of the last four holes to make the cut." Using the word as a verb.
Memory hook
Think of a ball flying gracefully like a little 'birdie' straight into the hole. Fly like a birdie to get under par.
When not to use
Do not use in formal writing to mean a small bird unless in a very casual or child-oriented context.
Fun facts
- The Atlantic City Country Club, where the term was coined, still has a plaque commemorating the exact hole where the first 'birdie' occurred.
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