goldfinch

Pronunciation: /ˈɡoʊldˌfɪnt͡ʃ/

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun American finch whose male has yellow body plumage in summer
  2. noun small European finch having a crimson face and yellow-and-black wings

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”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

New World goldfinch, yellowbird, Spinus tristis

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
finch

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