birdie

Birdie is a term used in several sports and in general language, most commonly to denote a small, favorable achievement or object. In golf, a birdie refers to a score of one stroke under par on a single hole. For example, completing a par-4 hole in three strokes is called a birdie. The term sits within a family of shorthand scores such as eagle (two under par) and albatross (three under par). The origin of the word is not definitively established; one widely cited explanation is that it comes from American slang for something excellent, with the diminutive “-ie” added to convey a small, pleasing result. The phrase “back-to-back birdies” describes achieving this result on two consecutive holes.

In badminton, a birdie is the shuttlecock used in play, also simply called a shuttle. It consists of a rounded cork base with a conical skirt of feathers or synthetic material, designed to be hit with a racket and to travel through the air with a distinctive, fast flight. The term is standard in both casual play and official competition and helps distinguish the shuttle from a ball or other equipment.

Other uses of the term are less formal. It can appear as a nickname or affectionate term in various contexts, and in popular culture its meaning is usually clear from the sport-specific usage. While “birdie” is most often linked to golf scoring or the badminton shuttle, the word functions broadly as a diminutive form conveying a small but favorable result or object.