Linkword

[cruciverbali]

Which word could be defined separately by both REAR and BIRD ?

Cruciverbalist

[kettledrum]

bunting ?

[rabet]

Sorry, but I don't follow this. How does "bunting" mean "rear"?

[cruciverbali]

Thanks for the suggestion - I do know that the correct answer has two headwords in Chambers, and that the first has 6 definitions, of which REAR and BIRD are just two. This rules out bunting I'm afraid.

Cruciverbalist

[kettledrum]

Sorry Rabet......I've only just revisited this question.....It's a pity it's not the answer but my tentative reasoning was....

In Chambers 1983 edition (and possibly others) but NOT the newest one (2006)....
bunting (3) See bunt (3)

& bunt (3)...to push with the horns, butt: to spring, rear: etc

[rabet]

Thanks, Kettledrum.

[cruciverbali]

I apologise to you both - I was on completely the wrong track with REAR and BIRD, having been mislead by the puzzle's preamble, and so set an unsolvable question.
Thank you again for your contributions.