'Thistle finch' definitions:
Definition of 'Thistle finch'
From: GCIDE
- Thistle \This"tle\, n. [OE. thistil, AS. [thorn]istel; akin to D. & G. distel, OHG. distila, distil, Icel. [thorn]istill, Sw. tistel, Dan. tidsel; of uncertain origin.] (Bot.) Any one of several prickly composite plants, especially those of the genera Cnicus, Craduus, and Onopordon. The name is often also applied to other prickly plants. [1913 Webster]
- Blessed thistle, Carduus benedictus, so named because it was formerly considered an antidote to the bite of venomous creatures.
- Bull thistle, Cnicus lanceolatus, the common large thistle of neglected pastures.
- Canada thistle, Cnicus arvensis, a native of Europe, but introduced into the United States from Canada.
- Cotton thistle, Onopordon Acanthium.
- Fuller's thistle, the teasel.
- Globe thistle, Melon thistle, etc. See under Globe, Melon, etc.
- Pine thistle, Atractylis gummifera, a native of the Mediterranean region. A vicid gum resin flows from the involucre.
- Scotch thistle, either the cotton thistle, or the musk thistle, or the spear thistle; -- all used national emblems of Scotland.
- Sow thistle, Sonchus oleraceus.
- Spear thistle. Same as Bull thistle.
- Star thistle, a species of Centaurea. See Centaurea.
- Torch thistle, a candelabra-shaped plant of the genus Cereus. See Cereus.
- Yellow thistle, Cincus horridulus. [1913 Webster]
- Thistle bird (Zool.), the American goldfinch, or yellow-bird (Spinus tristis); -- so called on account of its feeding on the seeds of thistles. See Illust. under Goldfinch.
- Thistle butterfly (Zool.), a handsomely colored American butterfly (Vanessa cardui) whose larva feeds upon thistles; -- called also painted lady.
- Thistle cock (Zool.), the corn bunting ({Emberiza militaria}). [Prov. Eng.]
- Thistle crown, a gold coin of England of the reign of James I., worth four shillings.
- Thistle finch (Zool.), the goldfinch; -- so called from its fondness for thistle seeds. [Prov. Eng.]
- Thistle funnel, a funnel having a bulging body and flaring mouth. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'thistle finch'
From: GCIDE
- Goldfinch \Gold"finch`\, n. [AS. goldfinc. See Gold, and Finch.] (Zool.) (a) A beautiful bright-colored European finch ({Carduelis elegans}). The name refers to the large patch of yellow on the wings. The front of the head and throat are bright red; the nape, with part of the wings and tail, black; -- called also goldspink, goldie, fool's coat, drawbird, draw-water, thistle finch, and {sweet William}. (b) The yellow-hammer. (c) A small American finch (Spinus tristis); the thistle bird. [1913 Webster]
- Note: The name is also applied to other yellow finches, esp. to several additional American species of Spinus. [1913 Webster]