estrildid

[ es-tril-did ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the family Estrildidae, comprising the grass finches, waxbills, mannikins, and other small finches.

noun

1. a bird of the family Estrildidae.

Word History and Origins

Origin of estrildid¹

< New Latin Estrildidae, equivalent to Estrild ( a ) the type genus (from the Linnaean specific name Astrild < Swedish: the god of love, literary coinage based on Old Norse ástareldr literally, love-fire; the bird was apparently so named from its red bill) + -idae -id ²