avadavat

[ av-uh-duh-vat ]

noun

1. a waxbill, Estrilda amandava, native to Asia, having in the male scarlet plumage with white dots on the sides and breast: raised as a cage bird.

avadavat

/ ˌævədəˈvæt; ˌæmədəˈvæt /

noun

1. either of two Asian weaverbirds of the genus Estrilda, esp E. amandava, having a red plumage: often kept as cagebirds

Word History and Origins

Origin of avadavat¹

First recorded in 1770–80; earlier amaduvad, after Amidavad, a 17th century name (perhaps from Portuguese ) for Ahmedabad, in Gujarat, from where the birds were first exported

Word History and Origins

Origin of avadavat¹

C18: from Ahmadabad, Indian city from which these birds were brought to Europe

Example Sentences

Perhaps the most attractive of small foreign birds is the avadavat, a tiny, perky little soldier.

From Project Gutenberg

A popular proverb says the housewife keeps the parrot, the lover keeps the avadavat, and the thief keeps pigeons.

From Project Gutenberg