bullfinch

¹

[bool-finch]

noun

1. a European finch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula, often kept as a pet, the male of which has a black, white, and bluish-gray back and a rosy breast.

2. any of several related or similar birds.

bullfinch

²

[bool-finch]

noun

1. a hedge high enough to impede mounted hunters.

bullfinch

¹

/ ˈbʊlˌfɪntʃ /

noun

1. a common European finch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula : the male has a bright red throat and breast, black crown, wings, and tail, and a grey-and-white back

2. any of various similar finches

bullfinch

²

/ ˈbʊlˌfɪntʃ /

noun

1. a high thick hedge too difficult for a horse and rider to jump

Word History and Origins

Origin of bullfinch¹

1560–70; bull ¹ (perhaps in sense “bull-necked”) + finch

Origin of bullfinch²

First recorded in 1825–35; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of bullfinch¹

C14: see _bull ¹ , _finch ; probably so called from its stocky shape and thick neck

Origin of bullfinch²

C19: perhaps changed from the phrase bull fence

Example Sentences

Her bedroom menagerie included an orphaned crow, a badger cub, a wounded jackdaw and a whole nest of baby bullfinches.

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In Barbados, for example — where Dr. Lefebvre maintains a field station — tourists often see native bullfinches eating remains of food on tables, including sugar from bowls.

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The St. Kitts bullfinch also fell victim to hurricanes in the late 19th century, Dr. Wunderle said.

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Today, “birds” alone lists woodpeckers, crossbills, jackdaws, crows, robins, thrushes, blue tits and great tits, goldfinches, bullfinches, ospreys, lapwings, oystercatchers, kestrels, a pheasant and several varieties of owl.

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I can just hear him shouting to his wife and daughters that “we have a bellowing of bullfinches on the bird feeder, quick!”

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