‖ beccafico
(bɛkkaˈfiko)
Forms: 7–9 beccafigo, 7 becchafigge, 8–9 beccafica, 8 beccifigo, 9 becafico, -ca, beccafigue, 7– beccafico.
[It.; lit. ‘fig-pecker,’ f. beccare to peck + fico fig.]
A name given in Italy to small migratory birds of the genus Sylvia, much esteemed as dainties in the autumn, when they have fattened on figs and grapes: they are identified with the British Pettychaps and Blackcaps.
| 1621 Burton in Lamb Cur. Fragm. (1823) 574 Beccaficos which men in Sussex eat. 1708 W. King Cookery (1807) 81 Quails, becafigoes, ortolans, were sent To grace the levee of a gen'ral's tent. 1732 Pope Hor. Sat. ii. ii. 39 Children sacred held a Martin's nest, Till Becca-ficos sold so dev'lish dear. 1817 Byron Beppo xliii, I also like to dine on becaficas. 1835 E. Jesse Gleanings Nat. Hist. Ser. iii. 77 The Beccafico annually visits the fig orchard near that place [Worthing]. 1861 E. A. Beaufort Egypt. Sepul. I. vii. 144 Delicious little beccafigues, of which a hundred may be shot in one tree. |