canary

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

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Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Scientific names 1.3.2 Translations 1.4 Adjective 1.4.1 Translations 1.5 Verb 1.5.1 Translations 1.6 Derived terms 1.7 Related terms 1.8 See also

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From the Latin Canaria insula, Canary Islands (Islas Canarias); named for its dogs (canis).

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

canary (plural canaries)

1. A small, usually yellow, finch (genus Serinus), a songbird native to the Canary Islands.
2. Any of various small birds of different countries, most of which are largely yellow in colour.
3. (color/colour) A light, slightly greenish, yellow colour.

   canary colour:

4. A light, sweet, white wine from the Canary Islands.
5. A lively dance, possibly of Spanish origin (also called canaries).
6. Any test subject, especially an inadvertent or unwilling one. (From the mining practice of using canaries to detect dangerous gases.)
7. (informal) A female singer, soprano, a coloratura singer.
8. (slang) An informer or snitch; a squealer.
9. (slang) A (usually yellow) capsule of Nembutal™ barbiturate.
10. (Australian, informal) A sticker of unroadworthiness.

[edit] Scientific names

• Serinus canaria
• Serinus pusillus
• Serinus serinus

[edit] Translations

[edit] Adjective

canary (comparative: more canary, superlative: most canary)

1. (color/colour) of a light yellow colour.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to canary (third-person singular simple present canaries, present participle canarying, simple past and past participle canaried)

1. (intransitive) to dance nimbly (as in the canary dance)

[edit] Translations

[edit] Derived terms

• bush canary
• canary creeper
• canary grass
• canary in a coal mine
• canary yellow

[edit] Related terms

• serin
• yellowhead

[edit] See also

• Appendix:Colours