What does shuttlecock mean?
A shuttlecock is the small, lightweight projectile used in badminton and several related racket games. Traditional shuttlecocks have a rounded cork base covered by feathers, whereas modern badminton games commonly use plastic or nylon versions with a conical skirt. A player strikes it over a net with a racket, and its rapid movement and relatively large target create the distinctive pace of badminton. The word can also denote the older game itself, in which a shuttlecock is hit back and forth over a net. Although “birdie” is widely used as an informal alternative for the projectile, “shuttlecock” is the more precise term and is especially common in British English. The compound form reflects its history: a shuttlecock was originally named for its resemblance to a shuttle, a tool used in weaving, combined with “cock,” an old word for a bird.
nounA small, lightweight object with a rounded cork or plastic base and feathers or a skirt, struck with a racket in badminton and similar games. The word can also refer to the traditional game played with such an object.
- A lightweight projectile struck with a racket in badminton and related games.
- The traditional game played with a shuttlecock, historically involving a battledore or racket and a net.
"The shuttlecock flew over the net just before the point ended."
"A gust of wind knocked the shuttlecock toward the spectators."
"They played a game of shuttlecock on the lawn."
The standard plural adds -s.
"The coach replaced the damaged shuttlecocks before the match."
A shuttlecock is a feathered projectile with an astonishingly short flight time, making badminton one of the fastest racket sports in the world.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does shuttlecock come from?
The compound “shuttlecock” dates back to the early modern period and combines “shuttle,” a weaving implement also used to refer to a small cone-shaped object, with “cock,” an older term for a bird. The name likely referred to the projectile’s feathered, birdlike appearance. Its earlier association with the traditional game became distinct from the game of badminton, which developed in the nineteenth century.
How shuttlecock is actually used
In modern usage, “shuttlecock” most often refers to the badminton projectile. The word “birdie” is common in American English, while “shuttlecock” remains standard in both British and American English.
Easily confused with shuttlecock
A shuttlecock is the object struck in badminton, while a birdie is the scoring term for a successful stroke and can also mean a small bird.