oriole

ori·ole

noun \ˈȯr-ē-ˌōl, -ē-əl\

Definition of ORIOLE

1

: any of various usually brightly colored Old World passerine birds (family Oriolidae and especially genus Oriolus)

2

: any of various New World passerine birds (family Icteridae and especially genus Icterus) of which the males are usually black and yellow or black and orange

Illustration of ORIOLE

Origin of ORIOLE

New Latin oriolus, from Medieval Latin, from Old French oriol, from Latin aureolus golden-colored, diminutive of aureus golden — more at aureus

First Known Use: 1768

Other Birds Terms

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

Rhymes with ORIOLE

aureole, banderole, bannerol, barcarole, barrel roll, buttonhole, cabriole, camisole, capriole, caracole, carmagnole, coffee roll, croquignole, cubbyhole, decontrol, Demerol, Dover sole, escarole, exit poll, farandole, finger hole, fumarole, girandole, girasole, Grand Guignol, honor roll, innersole, in the hole, Jackson Hole, jelly roll, kaiser roll, lemon sole, meadow vole, methanol, micromole, millimole, monopole, muster roll, on a roll, on the whole, ostiole, oversoul, ozone hole, petiole, pick-and-roll, pigeonhole, protocol, rabbit hole, rigmarole, rock and roll, Seminole, totem pole, tracheole, vacuole, water hole

oriole

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus)—(Top) H. Schrempp/Bruce Coleman Inc., (bottom) R. Austing/Bruce Coleman Inc.

Any songbird of about 30 species in the Old World genus Oriolus (family Oriolidae) or 30 species in the New World genus Icterus (family Icteridae). Males typically are black and yellow or black and orange, with some white. Females are less colourful. Orioles are not easily seen but may be detected by their loud whistling and jarring notes. All are insect eaters (several species also eat fruit) in woodlands and gardens, chiefly in warm regions. The only European species is the 9.5-in. (24-cm) golden oriole (O. oriolus). Other Oriolus species are found in Africa, Asia, and Australia. The Baltimore oriole (I. galbula) breeds in North America east of the Rocky Mountains.