finch
UK[fɪntʃ]US[fɪntʃ]
n
A small songbird with a short, stout beak, typically having a conical shape adapted for eating seeds.
Etymology
The word 'finch' originates from the Old English 'finc', which is of West Germanic origin. It is related to the Dutch 'vink' and the German 'Fink'. The name is likely onomatopoeic, imitating the bird's characteristic call or song. This term has remained remarkably stable in form and meaning across centuries, referring specifically to this family of seed-eating passerine birds.
Analysis
The word 'finch' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It does not contain separable morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The goldfinch is a brightly colored finch common in gardens.
He could identify the species of finch by its distinctive song.
Darwin's study of the Galapagos finches was crucial to his theory of evolution.