siskin
[sis-kin]
- any of several small, cardueline finches, especially Carduelis spinus, of Europe.
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Compare pine siskin.
Origin of siskin
1555–65; < Middle Dutch sijsken, equivalent to sijs (< Middle Low German czītze < Slavic; compare Lusatian cyž, Czech číž, Polish czyż siskin, ultimately of imitative orig.) + -ken -kin
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for siskin
Contemporary Examples
A longtime Murdoch loyalist and former News Corp. general counsel, Siskin has been a director at the company for 20 years.
Historical Examples
I once came on a considerable flock of the rare bird, the siskin.
The Forest of DeanH. G. Nicholls
Their beaks were light and very pointed, and they had forked tails like the siskin.
Everyday AdventuresSamuel Scoville
This bird is the size of the siskin, and four inches in length.
The Natural History of Cage BirdsJ. M. Bechstein
This bird will pair with the canary, siskin, linnet, or goldfinch.
The Natural History of Cage BirdsJ. M. Bechstein
They were about the size of the English siskin; and I judged the two to be male and female.
Oregon and EldoradoThomas Bulfinch
siskin
- a yellow-and-black Eurasian finch, Carduelis spinus
- pine siskin a North American finch, Spinus pinus, having a streaked yellowish-brown plumage
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Word Origin
C16: from Middle Dutch sīseken, from Middle Low German sīsek; related to Czech čižek, Russian chizh
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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