n.
(pl. canaries)
- a bright yellow finch with a melodious song, popular as a cage bird.
[Serinus canaria (Canary Islands, Azores, and Madeira) and related species in Africa.]
-
(also canary yellow)
a bright yellow colour.
- historical a sweet wine from the Canary Islands, similar to Madeira.
Etymology
C16: from Fr. canari, from Sp. canario ‘canary’ or ‘person from the Canary Islands’.