goldfinch

English

Etymology

From Middle English goldfinch, goldfynch, goldefynch, from Old English goldfinċ, equivalent to gold +‎ finch. Compare West Frisian goudfink (“goldfinch”), Dutch goudvink (“bullfinch”), German Goldfink (“goldfinch”), Danish guldfink (“goldfinch”), Icelandic gullfinka (“goldfinch”).

Pronunciation
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Noun

goldfinch (plural goldfinches)

A goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
  1. Any of several small passerine birds of the finch family
    1. A European goldfinch, Eurasian goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
    2. An American goldfinch (Spinus tristis, syn. Carduelis tristis)
    3. A Lawrence's goldfinch (Spinus lawrencei, syn. Carduelis lawrencei)
    4. A lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria, syn. Carduelis psaltria).
  2. (UK, slang, obsolete) A sovereign (the coin).

Derived terms

Translations

References
  • (sovereign): John Camden Hotten (1873) The Slang Dictionary

See also

Further reading
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