Canary

English

Etymology

From the Latin Canariae insulae, "Canary Islands" (Spanish "Islas Canarias"); from the largest island Insula Canaria ("Dog Island" or "Canine Island"), named for its dogs, from canarius, "canine", from canis, dog.

Pronunciation

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Noun

Canary (plural canaries)

1. A small, usually yellow, finch (genus Serinus), a songbird native to the Canary Islands.
2. Any of various small birds of different countries, most of which are largely yellow in colour.
3. A light, slightly greenish, yellow colour.

   Canary colour:

4. A light, sweet, white wine from the Canary Islands.
5. A lively dance, possibly of Spanish origin (also called canaries).
6. Any test subject, especially an inadvertent or unwilling one. (From the mining practice of using canaries to detect dangerous gases.)
7. (informal) A female singer, soprano, a coloratura singer.
8. (slang) An informer or snitch; a squealer.
9. (slang) A (usually yellow) capsule of Nembutal™ barbiturate.
10. (Australian, informal) A sticker of unroadworthiness.

Adjective

Canary (comparative more Canary, superlative most Canary)

1. Of a light yellow colour.

Verb

Canary (third-person singular simple present canaries, present participle Canarying, simple past and past participle canaried)

1. (intransitive) to dance nimbly (as in the canary dance)