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noun Common

Colin

KO-lihn

Colin (noun) means the bobwhite quail, a small North American game bird, or a related species. Example: “A colin darted through the brush ahead of the dog.”

noun
1
The bobwhite quail, a small North American game bird, or a related species.
"A colin darted through the brush ahead of the dog."

Word forms

Colins plural, colins plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

A _____ darted through the brush ahead of the dog.

Etymology

As a given name, a medieval short form of Nicholas; the bird sense comes from a separate, unrelated source.

bobwhite quail bobwhite quail

Related words

Rhymes for Colin

See all rhymes for Colin →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Colin” mean?

The word “Colin” means the bobwhite quail, a small North American game bird, or a related species.

How do you pronounce “Colin”?

“Colin” is pronounced KO-lihn (/ˈkɑlɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “Colin” in a sentence?

Here is “Colin” used in a sentence: “A colin darted through the brush ahead of the dog.”

What part of speech is “Colin”?

“Colin” is a noun.

Is “Colin” a common word?

“Colin” is a fairly common word in modern English.

Is a colin the same bird as a bobwhite quail?

Yes. Colin is another name for the bobwhite, a small North American game bird, and it can also refer to related New World quail species. The two names describe the same kind of bird.

What is the difference between a colin and a partridge?

A colin is a New World quail native to North America, while true partridges are Old World game birds found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. They look similar and are both small game birds, but they belong to different groups.

Is the bird colin related to the personal name Colin?

No. The bird name colin, meaning the bobwhite quail, is a separate use of the spelling from the personal name Colin. They happen to be written the same way but refer to entirely different things.

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