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Webster 1913 Edition
Finch
Finch
(fĭnch)
, Noun.
pl.
Finches
(fĭnch′ĕz)
. [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
. ☞ The word is often used in composition, as in chaffinch, goldfinch, grassfinch, pinefinch, etc.
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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Finch
FINCH
,Noun.
A bird. But finch is used chiefly in composition; as chaffinch, goldfinch. These belong to the genus Fringilla.