finch

[ finch ]

/ fɪntʃ /

noun

any of numerous small passerine birds of the family Fringillidae, including the buntings, sparrows, crossbills, purple finches, and grosbeaks, most of which have a short, conical bill adapted for eating seeds.

any of various nonfringilline birds, especially the weaverbirds of the family Ploceidae and the tropical members of the subfamily Emberizinae.

Nearby words

financing gap, financière, finasteride, finback, finca, finch, finchley, find, find fault, find it in one's heart, find one's bearings

Origin of finch

before 900; Middle English; Old English finc; cognate with Dutch vink, German Fink; akin to Greek spíngos finch

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for finch

His observations of the many varieties of Finch birds in the Galapagos Island led him to solidify his theory of natural selection.
‘Gods of Suburbia’: Dina Goldstein’s Arresting Photo Series on Religion vs. Consumerism|Dina Goldstein|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It takes a certain amount of training to set up and use, Finch said.
The Missile That Likely Shot Down MH17|Chris Allbritton, Dave Majumdar|July 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their song is after the style of that of the Purple Finch, very different from that of the Red-eye.
Bird Guide: Land Birds East of the Rockies|Chester A. (Chester Albert) Reed
No better soldier can be found, not even in the regular army, than Sergeant Finch.
History of the Dewitt guard, company A, 50th regiment National guard, state of New York|Unknown

A pleasant neighbor and good Citizen, belonging to the southern branch of the Finch family.
Citizen Bird|Mabel Osgood Wright and Elliott Coues
Finch, who had the day before been universally reviled, was now universally applauded.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
Finch drew back at this, however, and hummed and hawed at the word.
The Green Hand|George Cupples

British Dictionary definitions for finch

finch

/ (fɪntʃ) /

noun

any songbird of the family Fringillidae, having a short stout bill for feeding on seeds and, in most species, a bright plumage in the male. Common examples are the goldfinch, bullfinch, chaffinch, siskin, and canary

any of various similar or related birds

Related formsRelated adjective: fringilline

Word Origin for finch

Old English finc; related to Old High German finko, Middle Dutch vinker, Greek spingos

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for finch

finch

Old English finc, from Proto-Germanic *finkiz, *finkjon (cf. Middle Low German and Middle Dutch vinke, Dutch vink, Old High German finco, German Fink), perhaps imitative of the bird's note (cf. Breton pint "chaffinch," Russian penka "wren").

finch

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Origin of finch

Examples from the Web for finch

British Dictionary definitions for.css-ylq2vz{color:#1a1a1a;} finch

finch

noun

Word Origin for finch

Word Origin and History for finch

finch

noun

British Dictionary definitions for finch