DCHP-2

bird dog birddog, bird-dog, Bird Dog DCHP-2 (June 2017)

• 1 n. — also used as an adjective; Forestry

  a small airplane used as a guide for water bombers.

  Type: 5. Frequency — Given the size and economic value of Canada's forests, the location and management of wild fires is vital. The term bird dog, used to refer to planes that guide water bombers, is a semantic adaptation from the word used for dogs trained to locate and retrieve birds shot in a hunt. US attestations appear as early as 1953 in The New York Times. The term, in all meanings, is most common in Canada (see Chart 1) and shows a wide spread across the country, with BC standing out somewhat (see Chart 2).
  See COD-2, s.v. "bird dog" (3), which labels the meaning "Cdn".

• 2 † v. — North American

  to conduct a search; to act as a scout, especially in sports.

  Type: 3. Semantic Change — This meaning evolved from the literal meaning of a 'gun dog trained to retrieve birds' and applies the term to a sports context, where coaches or teams will scout for new players.
  See also COD-2, s.v. "bird dog" (2), which is marked "N Amer.", OED-3, s.v. "bird-dog" (v.), which is marked "N. Amer. colloq.".

• 3 † v. — North American

  to pursue with dogged determination; to pester.

  Type: 3. Semantic Change — This meaning evolved from one of the main attributes of bird-dogs, trained to retrieve birds shot when hunting. Often, these dogs are required to go through a variety of terrains and, if trained well, are undeterred by obstacles.
  See also OED-3, s.v. "bird-dog" (v.), which is marked "N. Amer. colloq.".