canary
UK[kəˈneə.ri]US[kəˈner.i]
n
A small, yellow songbird, often kept as a pet.
n
A bright, clear yellow color, like that of the bird.
n
(historical) A person, especially a singer, employed to detect danger, as in a coal mine.
Etymology
The word 'canary' originates from the Spanish 'canario', meaning 'of the Canary Islands'. The islands themselves were named by the Romans as 'Canariae Insulae' (Islands of Dogs), likely from the Latin 'canis' (dog), due to the presence of large dogs or seals. The small yellow songbird, native to these islands, was brought to Europe and gave its name to the bird, and later, to the vibrant yellow color associated with its plumage. The term's use for a warning system derives from the historical practice of using these sensitive birds to detect toxic gases in mines.
Analysis
The word is a loanword from Spanish, derived from a toponym (place name). It is not productively formed from smaller, meaningful English morphemes.
Examples
She woke up to the cheerful song of her pet canary.
The walls of the kitchen were painted a cheerful canary yellow.
In the old days, miners would take a canary down into the shaft as an early warning for dangerous gases.