firebird
UK[ˈfaɪəbɜːd]US[ˈfaɪərbɜːrd]
n
any of various brightly colored birds, especially the Baltimore oriole or the scarlet tanager.
n
a legendary bird, often associated with fire in mythology or folklore.
Morpheme Breakdown
fire
bird
fire
bird
Etymology
the compound word 'firebird' is a transparent combination of two old english roots. the first element, 'fire', from proto-germanic fōr, evokes intense heat, light, and the color red or orange. the second element, 'bird', from proto-germanic burdaz, simply denotes the animal. when combined, the term logically describes birds with brilliant, fire-like plumage, such as the scarlet tanager. this literal descriptive use easily extended into the realm of folklore, where the creature became a mythical being intrinsically linked to or embodying the element of fire itself.
Analysis
Structure: fire + bird
fire (old english; the element of combustion and flame, used here attributively to denote color or mythical association) + bird (old english; a warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrate animal with feathers and wings, the core noun).
Examples
the brilliant red plumage of the male scarlet tanager has earned it the nickname firebird in some regions.
in slavic folklore, the firebird is a magical bird with glowing feathers that are sought after by heroes.
we were lucky to spot a firebird, a baltimore oriole, building its intricate hanging nest in the elm tree.