FINCH

finch. Finch, n. a genus of birds with sharp conical bills

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Finch (fĭnch), n.; pl. Finches (–ĕz). [[AS. finc; akin to D. vink, OHG. fincho, G. fink; cf. W. pinc a finch; also E. spink.]] (Zoöl.) A small singing bird of many genera and species, belonging to the family Fringillidæ. ☞ The word is often used in composition, as in chaffinch, goldfinch, grassfinch, pinefinch, etc. Bramble finch. See Brambling. — Canary finch, the canary bird. — Copper finch. See Chaffinch. — Diamond finch. See under Diamond. — Finch falcon (Zoöl.), one of several very small East Indian falcons of the genus Hierax. — To pull a finch, to swindle an ignorant or unsuspecting person. “Privily a finch eke could he pull.” Chaucer.