English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
Login Flashcards
noun

yellowhammer

YEL-oh-ham-er
Quiz me More like this

Yellowhammer (noun) means a yellowhammer is a small European bunting with mainly yellow plumage, found across western Eurasia. Example: “A yellowhammer sang from the top of the hedge.”

noun
1
A yellowhammer is a small European bunting with mainly yellow plumage, found across western Eurasia.
"A yellowhammer sang from the top of the hedge."
"Farmers often spot yellowhammers along field margins in summer."
"The male yellowhammer has a strikingly bright yellow head."
2
US In American usage, a yellowhammer is the northern flicker, a woodpecker with yellow underwings that taps on trees to find insects.
"The yellowhammer drummed loudly on the old fence post."
"She caught a flash of yellow as the yellowhammer flew off."

How to use yellowhammer

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small yellow bunting common in the British countryside, or, in America, a woodpecker known as the northern flicker.

When to use it

The bird sense is standard British usage; the woodpecker sense belongs to American English.

Memory tip

In Britain this word means a bunting, but in the US it can mean a completely different bird, the northern flicker.

Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
yellowhammer's song male yellowhammer yellowhammer nest spot a yellowhammer
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like yellowhammer.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Test yourself on “yellowhammer” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

A _____ sang from the top of the hedge.

Etymology

The word altered an older form, yelambre, under the influence of hammer. That earlier form went back through Middle English to yellow plus an old word for the bird, related to Old English amore and modern German Ammer.

Origin: Middle English / Old English

Synonyms

View more →
yellow bunting

Rhymes for yellowhammer

hammer Jammer rammer stammer slammer programmer jackhammer sledgehammer
See all rhymes for yellowhammer →

Frequently asked questions

Is a yellowhammer the same as a canary?
No, a yellowhammer is a wild bunting or, in America, a woodpecker, not a caged songbird like a canary.
Why is it called a yellowhammer?
The name comes from an older word for the bird that was reshaped by the word hammer, not from any hammering habit.
What does a yellowhammer look like?
The European bird has a mostly yellow head and body with a streaked brown back.
What is the meaning of yellowhammer?
"yellowhammer" (noun) means a yellowhammer is a small European bunting with mainly yellow plumage, found across western Eurasia.