cardueline

[ kahr-joo-ee-lin ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the passerine subfamily Carduelinae, including the goldfinches, siskins, canaries and crossbills.

noun

1. any bird of the subfamily Carduelinae.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cardueline¹

< New Latin Carduelinae, equivalent to Carduel ( is ) genus name ( Latin: goldfinch, derivative of carduus thistle) + -inae -inae

Example Sentences

He states further that the cardueline finches arise without disjunction from the tanagers.

From Project Gutenberg

The muscle does not seem to be so well developed in the cardueline finches as it is in the other species.

From Project Gutenberg

Only the ploceids and the cardueline finches in the present investigation fail to show such a division.

From Project Gutenberg