linnet
1 synonym for linnet, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A small European finch with brown, streaked plumage, often found in open countryside.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
lintwhite
How to use linnet
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
singing linnet
flock of linnets
linnet's nest
garden linnet
The word is mainly used in birdwatching and nature writing rather than everyday speech.
Etymology
Linnet comes from Old French linette, itself from lin meaning flax, because the bird likes to eat flax seeds. An Old English name for the bird, linete, also fed into the word.
Full origin of linnet →Frequently asked questions
What kind of bird is a linnet?
In Britain it is a small finch with streaked brown plumage that favours open countryside and hedgerows.
Why is it called a linnet?
The name comes from an old word for flax, since the bird has a fondness for flax seeds.
Is a linnet the same bird in America and Britain?
No, in American usage linnet often refers to the house finch, a different species from the European linnet.
