Oriole

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɔː.ɹiːˌəʊl/

Definitions

1. A bird species from the Icteridae family, notable for its striking colors and melodious calls, usually inhabiting trees and forests
2. This bird, characterized by vivid plumage and harmonious singing, belongs to the Icteridae family and predominantly resides in wooded regions
3. A species of bird within the Icteridae family, recognized for its bright colors and sweet song, typically found in forested habitats and sometimes seen in suburban areas

Etymology: The bird is named for its colour. Its name descends from Latin "aureolus," a diminutive of "aureus," meaning "golden," so the oriole is, in effect, a little golden one. The Latin word passed into Old French as "oriol" and then Middle French, and English borrowed it from French. The same Latin root produced "aureole," the halo or ring of light around a figure in religious art. The two words are doublets, meaning they entered English by different routes from one source. Both carry the idea of a golden glow, though one describes a patch of light and the other a yellow-and-black songbird. English speakers first recorded the bird's name around 1776, in the writings of the naturalist Thomas Pennant.