Finch \Finch\ (f[i^]nch), n.; pl. Finches (f[i^]nch"[e^]z).
[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 Fringillid[ae].
[1913 Webster]
Note: The word is often used in composition, as in chaffinch,
goldfinch, grassfinch, pinefinch, etc.
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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.
[1913 Webster]
Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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