jackdaw
C2Formal, literary, technical (ornithology). Uncommon in casual speech.
Definition
Meaning
A small, gray-black bird of the crow family (Corvus monedula), known for its intelligence and social nature.
The term can be used metaphorically to describe a person who collects miscellaneous, often shiny or trivial, objects, similar to the bird's reputed attraction to bright items.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A specific type of crow; part of a hyponymic set (rook, crow, raven, jackdaw). Often associated with cleverness and thievery in folklore.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is known in both varieties but is more commonly used and recognized in UK English due to the bird's prevalence.
Connotations
Similar in both: clever, social, sometimes seen as a pest. UK may have stronger literary/folkloric associations.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English. Many American speakers might simply call it a 'small crow' if unfamiliar with the specific term.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [ADJ] jackdaw [VERBed] [PREP] the [NOUN].A flock of jackdaws [VERB].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Jackdaw in peacock's feathers (derogatory: someone who pretends to be more important than they are).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually unused.
Academic
Used in ornithology, zoology, and literary studies.
Everyday
Rare, mostly in rural areas or among birdwatchers.
Technical
Standard term in ornithology for the species.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He tends to jackdaw interesting trinkets from charity shops.
- The magpie was jackdawing bits of foil from the bin.
American English
- Her shelf jackdaws an odd assortment of souvenirs.
- The child jackdawed every shiny rock on the path.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I saw a black bird. It was a jackdaw.
- The jackdaw is small.
- A noisy flock of jackdaws lives in the old church tower.
- Jackdaws are known for being very intelligent birds.
- The jackdaw, a member of the crow family, is remarkably adept at solving simple puzzles.
- We observed the jackdaws using sticks as tools to extract insects from the bark.
- The poet used the jackdaw as a metaphor for the mind's tendency to collect disparate fragments of knowledge.
- Ornithological studies have shown that jackdaws possess complex social structures and problem-solving abilities rivalling those of primates.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Jack' as a common name and 'daw' as an old word for bird. A 'Jack' bird - small and common.
Conceptual Metaphor
COLLECTING IS HOARDING (like a jackdaw). INTELLIGENCE IS BIRD-LIKE CLEVERNESS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'грач' (rook). The Russian 'галка' corresponds directly to 'jackdaw'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with a rook or raven. Using 'jackdaw' as a general term for any black corvid.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'jackdaw' primarily?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackdaws are the smallest of the three, with greyish necks and pale eyes. Crows are larger and all-black. Ravens are the largest, with wedge-shaped tails and deeper croaks.
Very rarely, but it can be used metaphorically to mean 'to collect miscellaneous items', inspired by the bird's behaviour.
Yes, like all corvids, jackdaws are considered highly intelligent, displaying problem-solving skills, social learning, and complex communication.
They are widespread across Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, often in open countryside, cliffs, towns, and parks, frequently nesting in cavities in trees or buildings.