I. kəˈnerē, -ˈeə-, -ˈa(a)(ə)-, -ˈā-, -ri noun
( -es )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: in sense 1, from Middle French canarie, canaries, from Old Spanish canario, from Islas Canarias Canary Islands, group in the Atlantic ocean southwest of Spain, from Late Latin Canariae insulae, literally, dog islands; in other senses, from Canary Islands, Canaries, from Spanish Islas Canarias
1. : a lively court dance of the 16th century
2. : a Canary Islands usually sweet wine similar to Madeira and once popular in England
3. or canary bird
a. : a small finch ( Serinus canarius ) that is native to the Canary Islands, that is greenish with brown streaks above and yellowish below with many variations in size, form, and color, and that is now extensively bred as a cage bird and singer — see chopper , roller II 2
b. : any of various small birds of different countries most of which are largely yellow in color (as some American warblers of the genus Dendroica, some of the African weaverbirds, and the American goldfinch)
4. slang
a.
(1) : soprano ; especially : a coloratura singer
(2) : a woman singer with a dance band
b. : informer , squealer
5. or canary yellow
[so called from the color of the canary bird]
a. : a light to moderate greenish yellow
b. : a moderate yellow
6. : a diamond of a pale yellow color
7. or canary bird
a. : a device for detecting gases in mines
b. : gas mask
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
obsolete : to dance nimbly (as in the canary dance)