Ortolan

2 definitions found

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

  Ortolan \Or"to*lan\, n. [F., fr. It. ortolano ortolan, gardener,
     fr. L. hortulanus gardener, fr. hortulus, dim. of hortus
     garden. So called because it frequents the hedges of gardens.
     See {Yard} an inclosure, and cf. {Hortulan}.] (Zool.)
     (a) A European singing bird ({Emberiza hortulana}), about the
         size of the lark, with black wings. It is esteemed


         delicious food when fattened. Called also {bunting}.
     (b) In England, the wheatear ({Saxicola oenanthe}).
     (c) In America, the sora, or Carolina rail ({Porzana
         Carolina}). See {Sora}.
         [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  ortolan
       n : brownish Old World bunting often eaten as a delicacy [syn: {ortolan
           bunting}, {Emberiza hortulana}]