English

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Etymology

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A male chaffinch

Given by the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary chaff +‎ finch,[1] but more recently the first element has been argued to derive from the same root as Old English cǣfed 'ornamented' and cǣfing 'hair-ornament', thus meaning 'ornamented finch, colourful finch'.[2]

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈt͡ʃæfɪnt͡ʃ/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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chaffinch (plural chaffinches)

  1. A small passerine bird, Fringilla coelebs, of the finch family, found throughout Europe and eastward to Iran and eastern Mediterranean coastlands.

Derived terms

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Translations

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "chaffinch, n." OED Online, Oxford University Press, June 2022, www.oed.com/view/Entry/30176. Accessed 1 September 2022.
  2. ^ Carole Hough, 'Cheveley and Chaff Hall: A Reconsideration of OE ceaf in Place-Names', Nottingham Medieval Studies, 43 (1999), 21–32; DOI: 10.1484/j.nms.3.291.