also Newgate-bird, subs. (common).—1. A son of the rope; an habitual criminal; a vagabond or scoundrel, old or young; a crack-rope or wag-halter (COTGRAVE; a gallows-clapper (FLORIO). Fr., gibier de Cayenne, or de potence.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. One that deserves hanging.
1822. SCOTT, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xi. That very GALLOWS-BIRD were enough to corrupt a whole ante-chamber of pages.
2. (common).—A corpse on, or from, the gallows.
1861. C. READE, The Cloister and the Hearth, ch. xxviii. I ne’er minced (dissected) ape nor GALLOWS-BIRD.
