chiffchaff

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See also: chiff-chaff

English[edit]

A chiffchaff.

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Echoic of the repetitive "chiff-chaff" song of the European species, Phylloscopus collybita.

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Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

chiffchaff (plural chiffchaffs)

  1. A small, common warbler, Phylloscopus collybita, with yellowish-green plumage that breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia.
  2. Any of several other species of the same genus.
  3. (UK, onomatopoeic, uncountable) The song of the chiffchaff.
    I thought I heard something singing chiffchaff, chiffchaff. So I had a look and there was a chiffchaff.

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