finch

noun \ ˈfinch \

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

Definition of finch

: any of numerous passerine songbirds (families Fringillidae, Estrildidae, Emberizidae, and Cardinalidae) having a short stout usually conical bill adapted for crushing seeds

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Recent Examples of finch from the Web

Mosquitoes become carriers of the disease after feeding on infected birds, such as crows, ravens and finches, which act as hosts for the disease.

— hannah holzer, sacbee, "Vigilance urged as Sacramento region leads state in West Nile virus activity," 12 July 2018
Her garden was a wildlife habitat and a migration stopover for hummingbirds, butterflies, and finches.

— bonnie l. cook, Philly.com, "Joan 'Penny' Colgan-Davis, innovative educator and clerk of Quaker meetings," 6 July 2018
Birds such as crows, ravens, finches and magpies act as hosts for the disease.

— hannah holzer, sacbee, "West Nile Virus season has begun: 8 birds have tested positive in Sac County," 25 June 2018
This medium-sized finch is a native to western North America, but today it is found throughout the United States and Hawaii.

— ernie cowan, sandiegouniontribune.com, "House finches right at home raising family here," 17 May 2018
At 490m above sea level, Cerro Mesa Reserve offers spectacular views of the largest crater on Santa Cruz Island, exotic plants, and seven unique subspecies of finch and the elusive vermilion flycatcher.

— allie almario, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to the Galápagos Islands," 5 Oct. 2016
Parrots and finches live in the sunroom of the main house.

— candace taylor, WSJ, "A Connecticut Estate With Animal Menagerie Seeks $13.75 Million," 4 May 2018
The blues stroke the air and hundreds of feeders for cardinals, hummingbirds, orioles, finches, squirrels, woodpeckers and other creatures dangle from racks.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "The Red Caddy," 24 Apr. 2018
The Galápagos island finches and mockingbirds gathered by Charles Darwin in 1835 during the voyage of the HMS Beagle—which had been instrumental in developing his theory of evolution through natural selection—were resting in nearby drawers.

— Outside Online, "The Curious Case of the Fly-Fishing Feather Thief," 19 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'finch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of finch

Middle English fynche, fynch, going back to Old English fink, going back to West Germanic *finki-, *finkja-, perhaps going back to an Indo-European echoic noun base *ping-, whence also Greek pínga "nestling," and, with mobile s, Greek spíngon "siskin," Old Norse spiki "tit," Swedish spink "finch" (in regional gulspink "yellowhammer" or "great tit"), dialectal English spink "finch" (perhaps borrowed from Scandinavian)

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined above

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