canary-bird
[See canary n.]
1. An insessorial singing bird, a kind of finch (Fringilla or Carduelis canaria, family Fringillidæ), originally brought from the Canary Islands, now a very common domestic songster. The wild bird, still found in Madeira, is green, but the domesticated breed is mostly of a characteristic yellow colour. (Also canary-finch and simply canary.)
| 1576 Gascoigne Compl. Philomene 33 Canara byrds come in to beare the bell, And Goldfinches do hope to get the gole. 1591 Percivall Sp. Dict., Verdon, a canarie bird, Auis viridis ex insula Canaria. 1685 Lond. Gaz. No. 2077/4 These are to give notice that there is lately come over from Canary, 700 Canary Birds. 1706 Phillips, Canary-bird, an admirable Singing-bird of a green Colour, formerly bred in the Canaries, and no where else. 1802 Bingley Anim. Biog. (1813) II. 174 The Canary-bird must be considered as the musician of the chamber. 1850 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xiv. 124 She [Eva] would perch like a canary-bird on some box or package near Tom. |
2. Thieves' slang. (See quots.)
| 1673 R. Head Cant. Acad. 157 Newgate is a Cage of Canary-birds. 1725 New Cant. Dict., Canary-Bird, a little arch or knavish Boy; a Rogue or Whore taken, and clapp'd into the Cage or Round-house. 1785 Grose Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Canary bird, a jail bird, or person used to be kept in a cage, also in the canting sense, guineas. 1842 Ainsworth's Mag. II. 74 Leaving fifty good canary birds with their landlord when they go away. |