Chaf·finch n. Zool. A bird of Europe (Fringilla cœlebs), having a variety of very sweet songs, and highly valued as a cage bird; -- called also copper finch.
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Cop·per n.
1. A common metal of a reddish color, both ductile and malleable, and very tenacious. It is one of the best conductors of heat and electricity. Symbol Cu. Atomic weight 63.3. It is one of the most useful metals in itself, and also in its alloys, brass and bronze.
Note: ☞ Copper is the only metal which occurs native abundantly in large masses; it is found also in various ores, of which the most important are chalcopyrite, chalcocite, cuprite, and malachite. Copper mixed with tin forms bell metal; with a smaller proportion, bronze; and with zinc, it forms brass, pinchbeck, and other alloys.
2. A coin made of copper; a penny, cent, or other minor coin of copper. [Colloq.]
My friends filled my pockets with coppers. --Franklin.
3. A vessel, especially a large boiler, made of copper.
4. pl. Specifically Naut., the boilers in the galley for cooking; as, a ship's coppers.
Note: ☞ Copper is often used adjectively, commonly in the sense of made or consisting of copper, or resembling copper; as, a copper boiler, tube, etc.
All in a hot and copper sky. --Coleridge.
Note: It is sometimes written in combination; as, copperplate, coppersmith, copper-colored.
Copper finch. Zool. See Chaffinch.
Copper glance, or Vitreous copper. Min. See Chalcocite.
Indigo copper. Min. See Covelline.
Finch n.; pl. Finches Zool. A small singing bird of many genera and species, belonging to the family Fringillidæ.
Note: ☞ The word is often used in composition, as in chaffinch, goldfinch, grassfinch, pinefinch, etc.
Bramble finch. See Brambling.
Canary finch, the canary bird.
Copper finch. See Chaffinch.
Diamond finch. See under Diamond.
Finch falcon Zool., one of several very small East Indian falcons of the genus Hierax.
To pull a finch, to swindle an ignorant or unsuspecting person. [Obs.] “Privily a finch eke could he pull.”
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