grosbeak

[ grohs-beek ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

grosbeak

/ ˈɡrɒs-; ˈɡrəʊsˌbiːk /

any of various finches, such as Pinicola enucleator ( pine grosbeak ), that have a massive powerful bill
cardinal grosbeak
any of various mostly tropical American buntings, such as the cardinal and pyrrhuloxia, the males of which have brightly coloured plumage

First recorded in 1670–80; partial translation of French grosbec “large bill”; gross ( def ), beak

C17: from French grosbec, from Old French gros large, thick + bec beak ¹

Finally, Mr. Pine Grosbeak plucked up courage to approach nearer.

The “social grosbeak” fabricates a republic of nests in one clump, and all under one roof.

Then a catbird and a brown thrush sang against a grosbeak and a hermit thrush.

The grosbeak sang on, a big Turnus butterfly sailed through the arbour and poised over the table.

She talked to the grosbeak in exactly the same manner, as she laid strawberries and potato bugs on the fence for his family.

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