siskin

noun

sis·​kin ˈsi-skən How to pronounce siskin (audio)
: a small chiefly greenish and yellowish finch (Carduelis spinus) of Europe, Asia, and northern Africa that is related to the goldfinch compare pine siskin, red siskin

Examples of siskin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Basically, the process of trafficking a siskin may start with a trapper in a rural area. Joshua Rapp Learn, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Apr. 2020 Researchers are working on learning more about trafficking rings in an effort to potentially recruit some of the breeders and other players to help with siskin conservation. Joshua Rapp Learn, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Apr. 2020 The first red siskins just arrived at SCBI in 2015. Jackson Landers, Smithsonian, 18 May 2017 The very first red siskin chick ever born at SCBI hatched in mid-April. Jackson Landers, Smithsonian, 18 May 2017 Finches, pine siskins, chickadees and woodpeckers eat the seeds from the pine cones and glean insects from the bark. Jennifer J. Meyer, Orange County Register, 24 Jan. 2017 Smithsonian hopes to eventually breed enough red siskins to support a reintroduction program and bolster the wild population in South America. Jackson Landers, Smithsonian, 18 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'siskin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

German dialect Sisschen, diminutive of Middle High German zīse siskin, of Slav origin; akin to Czech čížek siskin

First Known Use

1544, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of siskin was in 1544

Dictionary Entries Near siskin

Cite this Entry

“Siskin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/siskin. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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