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noun

linnet

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Linnet (noun) means a small European finch with brown, streaked plumage, often found in open countryside. Example: “A linnet sang from the top of the hedgerow.”

noun
1
A small European finch with brown, streaked plumage, often found in open countryside.
"A linnet sang from the top of the hedgerow."
"Flocks of linnets gathered on the stubble field after harvest."
"The linnet built its nest low in the gorse bush."
2
US In American usage, the house finch, a small North American finch.
"A linnet perched on the garden feeder outside the kitchen window."
"He heard a linnet calling from the porch railing."

How to use linnet

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA linnet is a small songbird known for its liking of seeds, especially flax, and its pleasant song.

When to use it

The word is mainly used in birdwatching and nature writing rather than everyday speech.

Memory tip

In British texts, linnet almost always means the common linnet, not the American house finch.

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Common pairings
singing linnet flock of linnets linnet's nest garden linnet
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A _____ sang from the top of the hedgerow.

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.

Origin: Old French

Synonyms

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lintwhite

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.
What is the meaning of linnet?
"linnet" (noun) means a small European finch with brown, streaked plumage, often found in open countryside.