grosbeak

[grohs-beek]

noun

any of various finches having a thick, conical bill.

Origin of grosbeak

First recorded in 1670–80, grosbeak is from the French word grosbec, literally, large beak

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for grosbeak

Historical Examples of grosbeak

Only one species of grosbeak appears to be common in the Himalayas.
Birds of the Indian Hills
Douglas Dewar
That pretty fashion of a contrast in linings is not confined to the grosbeak.
Birds and All Nature, Vol. V, No. 4, April 1899
Various
Thence came the inspiration of the Loxia pensilis (the grosbeak of the Philippines).
The Bird
Jules Michelet
It is an easy matter, therefore, for the Grosbeak to break off a single seed.
Bird-Lore March-April 1916
Various
If I was to see the grosbeak and make sure of him, it must be done at once.
A Florida Sketch-Book
Bradford Torrey

British Dictionary definitions for grosbeak

grosbeak

noun

any of various finches, such as Pinicola enucleator (pine grosbeak), that have a massive powerful bill
cardinal grosbeak any of various mostly tropical American buntings, such as the cardinal and pyrrhuloxia, the males of which have brightly coloured plumage

Word Origin for grosbeak

C17: from French grosbec, from Old French gros large, thick + bec beak 1

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 grosbeak

1670s, partial translation of French grosbec; see gross + beak.