[syn: birdlime, lime]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Birdlime \Bird"lime`\, n. [Bird + lime viscous substance.]
An extremely adhesive viscid substance, usually made of the
middle bark of the holly, by boiling, fermenting, and
cleansing it. When a twig is smeared with this substance it
will hold small birds which may light upon it. Hence:
Anything which insnares.
[1913 Webster]
Not birdlime or Idean pitch produce
A more tenacious mass of clammy juice. --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Birdlime is also made from mistletoe, elder, etc.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Birdlime \Bird"lime`\, v. t.
To smear with birdlime; to catch with birdlime; to insnare.
[1913 Webster]
When the heart is thus birdlimed, then it cleaves to
everything it meets with. --Coodwin.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
birdlime
n 1: a sticky adhesive that is smeared on small branches to
capture small birds [syn: birdlime, lime]
v 1: spread birdlime on branches to catch birds [syn:
birdlime, lime]