hawfinch

[haw-finch]

noun

1. a European grosbeak, Coccothraustes coccothraustes.

hawfinch

/ ˈhɔːˌfɪntʃ /

noun

1. an uncommon European finch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes, having a very stout bill and brown plumage with black-and-white wings

Word History and Origins

Origin of hawfinch¹

First recorded in 1665–75; haw ¹ + finch

Example Sentences

Continually there fell upon and around me small objects from above—it was a party of hawfinches pelting me with scales of pine-cones, broken off in their search for seeds.

From Project Gutenberg

A few small species—hawfinch, pretty chaps, and gold-crest—were much more common now than in his day; but a very different and sadder story had to be told of most large birds.

From Project Gutenberg

The morphology of the head of the hawfinch.

From Project Gutenberg

Once, during the autumn, we were out catching goldfinches, starlings, and hawfinches, to sell them in the market early in the morning when our parents were still asleep.

From Project Gutenberg

The eggs are not unlike those of the English hawfinch; the ground colour is pale greenish grey, blotched and spotted with blackish brown.

From Project Gutenberg