oriole

[ awr-ee-ohl, ohr- ]

noun

1. any of several usually brightly colored, passerine birds of the family Oriolidae, of the Old World. Compare golden oriole.
2. any of several brightly colored passerine birds of the family Icteridae, of the New World.

oriole

/ ˈɔːrɪˌəʊl /

noun

1. any songbird of the mainly tropical Old World family Oriolidae, such as Oriolus oriolus ( golden oriole ), having a long pointed bill and a mostly yellow-and-black plumage
2. any American songbird of the family Icteridae, esp those of the genus Icterus, such as the Baltimore oriole, with a typical male plumage of black with either orange or yellow

Word History and Origins

Origin of oriole¹

1770–80; < French oriol, Old French < Medieval Latin oriolus, variant of Latin aureolus golden, equivalent to aure ( us ) golden (derivative of aurum gold) + -olus -ole ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of oriole¹

C18: from Medieval Latin oryolus, from Latin aureolus, diminutive of aureus, from aurum gold

Example Sentences

The next day, he spent the morning at Memorial Stadium pouring cokes at an Oriole party for a hundred poor children.

From The Daily Beast

But Father Oriole heard the three willow whistles and he turned and began to whistle back—oh such a pretty song.

From Project Gutenberg

In the fork of two high branches was a great round nest—oh ever so much bigger than the thrush's and the oriole's.

From Project Gutenberg

Father Oriole, you see, was more interested in getting fat beetles and caterpillars for food.

From Project Gutenberg

And once Mother Oriole found, caught in the shutter, little threads of Hepzebiah's hair.

From Project Gutenberg

So for a number of days in the warm weather, and in the rainy weather too, Mother Oriole sat faithfully on her nest.

From Project Gutenberg