lintwhite
[ lint-hwahyt, -wahyt ]
/ ˈlɪntˌʰwaɪt, -ˌwaɪt /
noun Chiefly Scot.
the linnet, Carduelis cannabina.
Origin of lintwhite
before 900;
lint (syncopated variant of
linnet) +
white; replacing Middle English
lynkwhytte, alteration (perhaps by association with
link hill (see
links) and
whit) of Old English
līnetwige linnet, literally, flax (or flax-field) trouble-maker, so called because the bird pecks out and eats flaxseed, equivalent to
līnet- (< Medieval Latin
līnētum flax-field) +
-wige, feminine of
wiga fighter
Words nearby lintwhite
British Dictionary definitions for lintwhite
lintwhite
/ (ˈlɪntˌwaɪt) /
noun
archaic, or poetic, mainly Scot
the linnet
Word Origin for lintwhite
Old English
līnetwige, probably from
līn flax +
-twige, perhaps related to Old High German
zwigon to pluck