Is the T-41C Really a Warbird?

The question has been raised as to whether the T-41C is really a warbird. After all, it's basically a Cessna Skyhawk with a 210 hp engine, big deal.

Merriam-Webster defines warbird as (1) a military airplane; also : a crew member of a military airplane; and (2) dialect scarlet tanager, a common American tanager (Piranga olivacea) of which the adult male is scarlet with black wings and tail and the female and young are chiefly olive. The Oxford English Dictionary defines warbird as (a) = war-eagle; (b) fig., a fighting aircraft or airman. Not much help here. War-eagle, by the way, is the golden eagle, so called because the North American Indians decorate themelves with its feathers.

According to EAA Warbirds, their original intent back in 1966 limited participation to owners and operators of World War II combat aircraft only, but over the years the warbird category has been expanded to include military aircraft of any type and era, encompassing, for example, liaison and trainer aircraft. Hence the inclusion of the T-41C.