*finch*

n. [ Cf. Chiff-chaff. ] (Zool.) A bird of Europe (Fringilla cœlebs), having a variety of very sweet songs, and highly valued as a cage bird; -- called also copper finch. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A British wagtail. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Finches [ 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 Fringillidæ. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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 ]

a. Streaked or spotted on the back; -- said of cattle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Same as Finchbacked. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. goldfinc. See Gold, and Finch. ] (Zool.) (a) A beautiful bright-colored European finch (Carduelis elegans). The name refers to the large patch of yellow on the wings. The front of the head and throat are bright red; the nape, with part of the wings and tail, black; -- called also goldspink, goldie, fool's coat, drawbird, draw-water, thistle finch, and sweet William. (b) The yellow-hammer. (c) A small American finch (Spinus tristis); the thistle bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The name is also applied to other yellow finches, esp. to several additional American species of Spinus. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Any of several usually brightly-colored Australian weaverbirds; they are often kept as cage birds.
Syn. -- grass finch. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Zool.) 1. A European finch (Ligurinus chloris); -- called also green bird, green linnet, green grosbeak, green olf, greeny, and peasweep. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The Texas sparrow (Embernagra rufivirgata), in which the general color is olive green, with four rufous stripes on the head. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The common European grosbeak (Coccothraustes vulgaris); -- called also cherry finch, and coble. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) (a) A small American bird (Spinus spinus syn. Chrysomitris spinus); -- called also pine siskin, and American siskin. (b) The pine grosbeak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The European linnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Asiatic finches of the genera Carpodacus, and Propasser, and allied genera, in which the male is more or less colored with rose red. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The European redstart. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The storm petrel. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) The whidah bird. [ 1913 Webster ]