mockingbird

[mok-ing-burd] /ˈmɒk ɪŋˌbɜrd/

noun

any of several gray, black, and white songbirds of the genus Mimus, especially M. polyglottos, of the U.S. and Mexico, noted for their ability to mimic the songs of other birds.

any of various related or similar birds, as Melanotis caerulescens (blue mockingbird) of Mexico.

Origin

1670-80, Americanism; mocking + bird

Examples from the web for mockingbird

It may have been a mockingbird, they do live in the area.
And maybe one day we'll tip our hats to the mockingbird, not out of fear but out of friendliness.
The mockingbird in the tree next to our bedroom has learned an excellent imitation of our neighbor's car alarm.

British Dictionary definitions for mockingbird

mockingbird

/ˈmɒkɪŋˌbɜːd/

noun

(Austral) any American songbird of the family Mimidae, having a long tail and grey plumage: noted for their ability to mimic the song of other birds

a small scrub bird, Atrichornis rufescens, noted for its mimicry

Word Origin and History for mockingbird

also mocking-bird, 1670s, from mocking (adj.), 1520s, from present participle of mock (v.) + bird (n.1). Earlier form was mock-bird (1640s).

mockingbird in Technology

Software that intercepts communications (especially login transactions) between users and hosts and provides system-like responses to the users while saving their responses (especially account IDs and passwords). A special case of Trojan horse.
[Jargon File]