birdlime

[ burd-lahym ]

/ ˈbɜrdˌlaɪm /

a sticky material prepared from holly, mistletoe, or other plants, and smeared on twigs to catch small birds that light on it.

to smear with birdlime.

to catch or capture, as with birdlime: to be birdlimed by flattery.

Origin of birdlime

First recorded in 1400–50, birdlime is from the late Middle English word brydelyme. See bird, lime¹

It is the birdlime with which the devil catches many a female and male soul.

Gatherings From Spain |Richard Ford
The flies seem an Egyptian plague, and get mortised into the oily butter, which holds them like birdlime.

Early Western Travels, 1748-1846, Volume XII |William Faux
From this it would appear, that fowlers stood behind trees, and used reeds tipped with birdlime, for the purpose of taking birds.

The Fables of Phdrus |Phaedrus
Birdlime is prepared from the tenacious milky juice of the Peepul and the Banyan.

Flowers and Flower-Gardens |David Lester Richardson

On the following morning we were early astir; and as soon as breakfast was over, we went regularly to work with the birdlime.

The Swiss Family Robinson |Johann David Wyss

birdlime

/ (ˈbɜːdˌlaɪm) /

a sticky substance, prepared from holly, mistletoe, or other plants, smeared on twigs to catch small birds

(tr) to smear (twigs) with birdlime to catch (small birds)