noun
bullfinch
BUL-finch
Bullfinch (noun) means the Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula, a small finch found across Europe and Asia. Example: “A bullfinch landed on the fence, its pink breast bright against the grey wood.”
noun
1
The Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula, a small finch found across Europe and Asia.
"A bullfinch landed on the fence, its pink breast bright against the grey wood."
"Bullfinches often feed on the buds of fruit trees in early spring."
"We heard the soft, low call of a bullfinch before we saw it in the hedge."
2
Any of several other Old World finches belonging to the genus Pyrrhula.
"The field guide listed three other bullfinch species alongside the common one."
"Several bullfinches in the genus Pyrrhula are found only in parts of Asia."
3
equestrianism In equestrianism, a solid fence topped with brush that a horse must jump.
"The horse cleared the bullfinch cleanly on the first attempt."
"Riders slow down before a bullfinch because the brush hides how solid the fence is."
How to use bullfinch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA bullfinch is a small European finch, and the same word also names a brush-topped jumping fence in horse riding.
When to use it
The bird sense is everyday English, while the equestrian sense is specialised to horse riding.
Memory tip
If the sentence mentions horses or jumping, bullfinch means the fence, not the bird.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
Eurasian bullfinch
genus Pyrrhula
jump a bullfinch
clear a bullfinch
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A _____ landed on the fence, its pink breast bright against the grey wood.
Etymology
Bullfinch is a straightforward compound of bull and finch.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What is a bullfinch?
A bullfinch is most often the Eurasian bullfinch, a small finch with a stout body, though the name also covers related finches in the same genus.
What is a bullfinch in horse riding?
In equestrianism, a bullfinch is a solid fence topped with brush that a horse jumps over as an obstacle.
Is bullfinch one word or two?
It is usually written as one word, bullfinch, though the hyphenated form bull-finch also exists.
What is the meaning of bullfinch?
"bullfinch" (noun) means the Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula, a small finch found across Europe and Asia.
