Meaning of bishy barnabee | Babel Free

Definitions

A ladybird.

Norfolk, UK, archaic, dialectal

Examples

“On finding a ladybird, a girl would place it on the back of her hand and gently blow it away after reciting the rhyme: Bishy, bishy Barnabee Tell me when my wedding will be, […]”

““Bishies...bishy barnabees, them's called hereabouts. Some say the name is ladybird, but them's more likely to be eaten by a bird.””

CEFR level