jack hanger, noun phrase

Forms:
Also jackie hanger, and with initial capitals.
Origin:
See quotation 1913.
The fiscal (sense 2), Lanius collaris.
1890 A. Martin Home Life 252The butcher bird, called by the colonists Jack Hanger, likes to eat his game high; and you often come across mimosa-bushes which, stuck all over with small birds, beetles, locusts, etc, impaled on long stiff thorns, from his well-stocked larder.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 231Jack Hanger, Lanius collaris. This designation has reference to the bird’s habit of hanging his captures on thorns until they are to his taste.
1966 F.G. Butler S. of Zambesi 17A single jackhanger cursing made the air go brittle.
1975 Dict. of Eng. Usage in Sn Afr. 92Jack hanger see: butcher bird.
The fiscal (sense 2), Lanius collaris.
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