canary seed

American  

noun

1. birdseed.

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canary seed British  

noun

1. another name for birdseed

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Etymology

Origin of canary seed

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

He went shopping for canary seed and Polly, loose in the pet shop, settled on his shoulder and said, 'Pretty boy, I love you so.'

From Time Magazine Archive

Besides this, give them a little scalded rapeseed, and a little rape and canary seed by itself.

From The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, Adapted to the Use of Private Families by Eaton, Mary, fl. 1823-1849

In captivity they take well to canary seed, and what is remarkable, never pick food with their feet, as do other species of parrots, but always use their beaks.

From Birds, Illustrated by Color Photography, Vol. 1, No. 1 January, 1897 by Various

People with kind hearts, scatter canary seed over their lawns to the merry birds for their summer songs, and for keeping down the weeds.”

From Birds, Illustrated by Color Photography, Vol. 2, No. 4 October, 1897 by Various

"Only," added Susan, "I must buy Dicky's canary seed."

From The Stokesley Secret by Yonge, Charlotte Mary