ˈsiskə̇n noun
( -s )
Etymology: German dialect sisschen, diminutive of Middle High German zīse, zīsic siskin, of Slavic origin; akin to Czech čiž, čižek siskin, Polish czyż, Russian chizh; all of imitative origin
1. : a small sharp-billed chiefly greenish and yellowish finch ( Spinus spinus ) of temperate Europe and Asia related to the goldfinch
2. : any of various small birds resembling the siskin — usually used in combination; see red siskin