Definition of birdie

The origins of the word "birdie" in golf are not well-documented, but there are a few theories. One possibility is that it comes from the Scottish word "bairn," meaning child, and was used to describe a shot that was cute and endearing, like a child's attempt at a golf shot. Another theory is that "birdie" was coined by Alan Thomas, a golf writer, in the 1890s. According to Thomas, a "birdie" was a score of one stroke under par on a hole, and the term was inspired by the idea that a golfer who achieved such a feat was "eating the birds" (i.e., beating the course). Regardless of its origin, "birdie" is now a widely accepted term in the golf world, used to describe any score of one stroke under par on a hole.