ortolan
(ˈɔːtələn)
Also 6–8 ortolane, 7 ortulan, hortulan(e, 8 ortelan.
[In sense 1, a. obs. F. hortolan, ortolan gardener (15th c. in Godef.), ad. L. hortulān-us, f. hortul-us, dim. of hortus garden; in sense 2, a. later F. ortolan (Cotgr. 1611 hortolan), a. Prov. ortolan or It. ortolano gardener, because this bird frequents gardens: cf. also L. hortulānus adj., of or belonging to the garden.]
† 1. A gardener. Obs. rare.
| 1526 St. Papers Hen. VIII, VI. 534, I yielde my sylffe entyerly to the wyll of the moost notable ortolane. |
2. A small bird, a species of bunting (
Emberiza hortulana), found in most European countries, as well as in northern Africa and western Asia, and highly esteemed for its delicate flavour; the garden-bunting. Also called
ortolan bunting.
| 1656 Cowley Verses & Ess., Horace, Epod. ii. (1669) 108 Nor Ortolans, nor Godwits, nor the rest Of costly names that glorify a Feast. 1682 Wheler Journ. Greece i. 67 As fat as Hortulans in France and Italie. c 1714 Pope Lett. (1735) I. 144, I love no Meat but Ortolans, and no Women but you. 1766 Goldsm. Ess., writ. by Ordinary of Newgate, He..would eat an ortolan for dinner though he begged the guinea that bought it. 1837 M. Donovan Dom. Econ. II. 145 The Ortolan is a small singing bird..common in France, Italy, and other parts of Europe. It is the epicure's prime morceau. 1895 Ld. Rosebery in Daily News 3 July 7/4 The choicest morsel that you can put before an epicure, and that is an ortolan inside a quail. |
| 1834 Mudie Brit. Birds (1841) II. 33 The ortolan bunting. 1843 Yarrell Hist. Brit. Birds I. 457 The Ortolan Bunting is only a summer visiter to the middle and northern countries of Europe. |
b. Applied in America and the West Indies to two other birds somewhat resembling the above, and esteemed as table delicacies,
viz. the bobolink or rice-bird (
Dolichonyx oryzivorus), and the soree or sora rail (
Porzana carolina).
| 1666 J. Davies Hist. Caribby Isls. 89 There are also Black-birds, Feldivars, Thrushes, and Hortolans, in a manner like those of the same name among us. 1793 B. Edwards West Ind. iv. 99 note, The most delicious bird in the West Indies is the Ortolan or October-bird. It is the Emberiza oryzivora of Linnæus, or rice-bird of South Carolina. |