shuttlecock: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-MediumNeutral, though primarily used in a sporting/technical context related to badminton. Extended meanings are more literary or metaphorical.
Quick answer
What does “shuttlecock” mean?
A lightweight, conical projectile with a rounded cork or rubber nose and a crown of feathers or synthetic material, used in the game of badminton.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A lightweight, conical projectile with a rounded cork or rubber nose and a crown of feathers or synthetic material, used in the game of badminton.
1. Any object that is batted back and forth between parties, like a ball in a game or a topic in conversation. 2. (Historical/Obsolete) A term for the 'bird' or 'birdie' used in early forms of badminton, sometimes called battledore and shuttlecock.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use 'shuttlecock' as the standard term in formal badminton contexts. Informally, especially among children or casual players, the term 'bird' or 'birdie' (from the feathered original) is common in North America. 'Shuttle' is sometimes used as a shorthand in both regions.
Connotations
In the UK, 'shuttlecock' is the unambiguous, standard term. In the US, 'birdie' carries a more casual, familiar connotation.
Frequency
'Shuttlecock' is more consistently used in the UK. In the US, 'birdie' is frequent in everyday speech, while 'shuttlecock' is used in official rules, commentary, and by serious players.
Grammar
How to Use “shuttlecock” in a Sentence
[Subject] hits/strikes/serves the shuttlecock.[Subject] is a shuttlecock in [metaphorical context].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shuttlecock” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Rare, often jocular) 'They spent the meeting shuttlecocking the blame between departments.'
American English
- (Rare, often jocular) 'The politicians shuttlecocked the issue until the media lost interest.'
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Used metaphorically: 'The proposal became a shuttlecock between the legal and finance departments.'
Academic
Rare outside of sports science or history of games.
Everyday
Primarily in the context of playing or watching badminton.
Technical
Standard term in badminton equipment specifications, rules, and coaching.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shuttlecock”
- Spelling: 'shuttlecock' (one word), not 'shuttle cock'.
- Confusing with 'shuttle' (spacecraft, bus).
- Using 'badminton ball' (incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. Its other uses are metaphorical, deriving from the back-and-forth motion of the game.
They refer to the same object. 'Shuttlecock' is the formal, technical term. 'Birdie' (or 'bird') is a common informal name, especially in North America, originating from the original feather design.
Yes, but it's rare and stylistically marked. It means to send or bandy back and forth, like a shuttlecock in play. It often has a negative or frivolous connotation.
The name combines 'shuttle' (from the weaving instrument that moves rapidly to and fro) and 'cock' (referring to the feathers, originally from a rooster). It describes an object that is propelled back and forth and is feathered.
A lightweight, conical projectile with a rounded cork or rubber nose and a crown of feathers or synthetic material, used in the game of badminton.
Shuttlecock is usually neutral, though primarily used in a sporting/technical context related to badminton. extended meanings are more literary or metaphorical. in register.
Shuttlecock: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃʌt(ə)lkɒk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃʌt(ə)lˌkɑːk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “like a shuttlecock (being batted back and forth)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SHUTTLE bus going back and forth between two points, and a COCK (rooster) with feathers. The shuttlecock goes back and forth across the net like a shuttle, and originally had feathers like a cock.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN ARGUMENT/ISSUE IS A SHUTTLECOCK (i.e., something lightweight, subject to external forces, and batted between opposing sides).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common informal synonym for 'shuttlecock' in American English?