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/keuh nair"ee/, n., pl. canaries, adj.n.1. any of several Old World finches of the genus Serinus, esp. S. canaria (common canary), native to the Canary Islands and often kept as a pet, in the wild being greenish with brown streaks above and yellow below and in domesticated varieties usually bright yellow or pale yellow.2. Also called canary yellow. a light, clear yellow color.3. Slang. informer (def. 1).4. Slang. a female singer, esp. with a dance band.5. a sweet white wine of the Canary Islands, resembling sherry.6. a yellow diamond.adj.7. having the color canary.[1585-95; < Sp (Isla) Canaria < L Canaria (insula) Dog (Island), equiv. to can(is) dog + -aria, fem. of -arius -ARY]
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Popular cage bird (Serinus canaria; in the goldfinch family, Carduelidae) that owes its coloration and sustained vocal powers to 400 years of selective breeding.Varieties called rollers trill almost continuously; choppers have a loud trill of distinct notes. Well-known breeds include Hartz Mountain, Norwich, and Yorkshire. The average life span of a caged canary is 10–15 years. The canary is native to the Canary, Azores, and Madeira islands. The wild form is streak-backed and mostly greenish brown.Canary (Serinus canaria).Eric Hosking* * *
▪ bird(species Serinus canaria), popular cage bird of the family Carduelidae (order Passeriformes). It owes its coloration and sustained vocal powers to 400 years of selective breeding by humans. Varieties called rollers trill almost continuously, the notes running together; choppers have a loud trill of distinct notes. Well-known breeds include Hartz Mountain, Norwich, and Yorkshire. The average life span of a caged canary is 10–15 years; some have survived for more than 20 years.The canary is native to the Canary, Azores, and Madeira islands. The wild form is streak-backed and mostly greenish brown. Among other members of the genus are the serin of Europe and the brimstone canary, or bully seedeater (S. sulphuratus) of Africa, which is also kept as a pet.For the wild canary in the United States, see goldfinch; woodwarbler (wood warbler). For the wild canary in Australia, see warbler. For information on the black-throated canary, see seedeater.* * *
Universalium. 2010.