cardinal

¹car·di·nal

noun \ˈkärd-nəl, ˈkär-də-\

Definition of CARDINAL

1

: a high ecclesiastical official of the Roman Catholic Church who ranks next below the pope and is appointed by him to assist him as a member of the college of cardinals

2

: cardinal number —usually used in plural

3

[from its color, resembling that of the cardinal's robes] : a crested finch (Cardinalis cardinalis of the family Cardinalidae) of the eastern United States and adjacent Canada, the southwestern United States, and Mexico to Belize which has a black face and heavy red bill in both sexes and is nearly completely red in the male

— car·di·nal·ship \-ˌship\ noun

Examples of CARDINAL

1. The Pope appointed two new cardinals this year.

Illustration of CARDINAL

Origin of CARDINAL

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin cardinalis, from Late Latin cardinalis, adjective

First Known Use: 12th century

Other Birds Terms

aerie, bunting, clutch, covey, hackle, ratite, rictus, ruff, skein, zygodactyl