Finch

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Finch \Finch\ (f[i^]nch), n.; pl. {Finches} (f[i^]nch"[e^]z).
     [AS. finc; akin to D. vink, OHG. fincho, G. fink; cf. W. pinc
     a finch; also E. spink.] (Zool.)
     A small singing bird of many genera and species, belonging to
     the family {Fringillid[ae]}.
     [1913 Webster]


  
     Note: The word is often used in composition, as in chaffinch,
           goldfinch, grassfinch, pinefinch, etc.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Bramble finch}. See {Brambling}.
  
     {Canary finch}, the canary bird.
  
     {Copper finch}. See {Chaffinch}.
  
     {Diamond finch}. See under {Diamond}.
  
     {Finch falcon} (Zool.), one of several very small East Indian
        falcons of the genus {Hierax}.
  
     {To pull a finch}, to swindle an ignorant or unsuspecting
        person. [Obs.] "Privily a finch eke could he pull."
        --Chaucer.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  finch
       n : any of numerous small songbirds with short stout bills
           adapted for crushing seeds