Blackbird /(blăk"bẽrd)/

Black·bird

Blackbird

n.
  1. In England, a species of thrush (Turdus merula), a singing bird with a fin note; the merle. In America the name is given to several birds, as the Quiscalus versicolor, or crow blackbird; the Agelæus phœniceus, or red-winged blackbird; the cowbird; the rusty grackle, etc. See Redwing. (Zool.)

Blackbird

n.
  1. Among slavers and pirates, a negro or Polynesian. [Cant, pejorative]
  2. A native of any of the islands near Queensland; -- called also Kanaka. [Australia, pejorative]

Blackbird

v. i.
  1. to engage in the slave trade. [Colloq.]