ˈgoldspink Sc. and dial.
Also gowdspink.
[f. gold1 + spink. Cf. goldfinch and Sw. dial gulspink (gul yellow), the yellow-hammer and titmouse.]
1. The goldfinch. Chiefly Sc.
| 1513 Douglas æneis xii. Prol. 240 Goldspynk and lyntquhyte fordynnand the lyft. 1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 39 The grene serene sang sueit, quhen the gold spynk chantit. 1724 Ramsay Tea-t. Misc. (1775) I. 21 Nansy's to the Green-wood gane, To hear the gowdspink chatt'ring. 1787 Burns Humble Petit. Bruar Water vi, The gowdspink, music's gayest child. 1882 Lanc. Gloss., Goldspink, gowdspink, a goldfinch. |
2. dial. The yellow-hammer.
| 1788 W. Marshall Yorksh. Gloss., Goldspink, the bird, yellowhammer. 1864 Atkinson Prov. Names Birds. |