Linnet

2 definitions found

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

  Linnet \Lin"net\ (l[i^]n"n[e^]t), n. [F. linot, linotte, from L.
     linum flax; or perh. shortened from AS. l[imac]netwige, fr.
     AS. l[imac]n flax; -- so called because it feeds on the seeds
     of flax and hemp. See {Linen}.] (Zool.)
     Any one of several species of fringilline birds of the genera
     {Linota}, {Acanthis}, and allied genera, esp. the common


     European species ({Linota cannabina}), which, in full summer
     plumage, is chestnut brown above, with the breast more or
     less crimson. The feathers of its head are grayish brown,
     tipped with crimson. Called also {gray linnet}, {red linnet},
     {rose linnet}, {brown linnet}, {lintie}, {lintwhite}, {gorse
     thatcher}, {linnet finch}, and {greater redpoll}. The
     American redpoll linnet ({Acanthis linaria}) often has the
     crown and throat rosy. See {Redpoll}, and {Twite}.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Green linnet} (Zool.), the European green finch.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  linnet
       n 1: small finch originally of the western United States and
            Mexico [syn: {house finch}, {Carpodacus mexicanus}]
       2: small Old World finch whose male has a red breast and
          forehead [syn: {lintwhite}, {Carduelis cannabina}]