/keuh nair"ee/ , n. , pl. canaries , adj.
n.
1. any of several Old World finches of the genus Serinus, esp. S. canaria (common canary) , native to the Canary Islands and often kept as a pet, in the wild being greenish with brown streaks above and yellow below and in domesticated varieties usually bright yellow or pale yellow.
2. Also called canary yellow . a light, clear yellow color.
3. Slang. informer (def. 1).
4. Slang. a female singer, esp. with a dance band.
5. a sweet white wine of the Canary Islands, resembling sherry.
6. a yellow diamond.
adj.
7. having the color canary.
[ 1585-95; Isla ) Canaria Canaria ( insula ) Dog (Island), equiv. to can ( is ) dog + -aria, fem. of -arius -ARY ]