See Also: sea canary(medicine)
canary(1)(dictionary)
canary(2)(dictionary)
canary(dictionary)
canary(encyclopedia)
Grand Canary(dictionary)
Canary Wharf(dictionary)
Canary Islands(dictionary)
Canary Islands(encyclopedia)
Four Seasons Canary Wharf(tourism)

canary(2) (iou)



canary noun. Also (esp. in senses 1 & 2) Canary. L16.
[from Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa, from French Canarie from Spanish Canaria from Latin Canaria (insula island), from canis dog: one of the islands was noted in Roman times for large dogs. In sense 3 from French canari, -ie from Spanish canario.]
Hist. sing. & in pl. A lively dance similar to the jig (perh. orig. from the Canary Islands). L16.
Hist. sing. & in pl. Sweet wine from the Canary Islands. L16.
A songbird of the finch family, Serinus canaria, native to the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Azores, of which wild individuals are green and the numerous cage varieties usu. yellow. Also, any of certain other birds of this genus. Also more fully canary-bird. L16.
b. A jailbird, a convict. slang. L17.
c. A gold coin (from its colour). L18.
A bright yellow. Freq. attrib. M19.
Comb.: canary-bird: see sense 3 above; canary-coloured adjective canary yellow; canary creeper a yellow-flowered climbing nasturtium, Tropaeolum peregrinum; canary-grass a grass, Phalaris canariensis, grown as a source of birdseed; also, with specifying word, any other plant of this genus (reed canary-grass: see REED noun1); canary-seed seed used to feed canaries, esp. that of canary-grass; canary yellow noun & adjective (of) a bright yellow.