Meaning and Origin
What does the name Linnet mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Linnet
User Submitted Origins
French
45%
English
36%
German
9%
African
9%
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
noun Lin"net
Any one of several species of fringilline birds of the genera Linota Acanthis, and allied genera, esp. the common European species (Linota cannabina), which, in full summer plumage, is chestnut brown above, with the breast more or less crimson. The feathers of its head are grayish brown, tipped with crimson. Called also gray linnet red linnet rose linnet brown linnet lintie lintwhite gorse thatcher linnet finch, and greater redpoll. The American redpoll linnet (Acanthis linaria) often has the crown and throat rosy. See Redpoll, and Twite.
Etymology: F. linot linotte, from L. linum flax; or perh. shortened from AS. līnetwige, fr. AS. līn flax; -- so called because it feeds on the seeds of flax and hemp. See Linen
Other Dictionary Sources
- Small Old World finch whose male has a red breast and forehead
- Small finch originally of the western United States and Mexico
Wiktionary
From Old French linette, from lin (“flax”), from the bird's fondness for the seeds of flax, the source of linen.
- A small passerine bird, the common linnet (Linaria cannabina, syn. Carduelis cannabina), in the finch family Fringillidae, native to Europe, western Asia, and north Africa.
- (US) A house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), of North America.
linnet was also found in the following language(s): Swedish