1. any of several small american finches of the genus Carduelis, especially C. tristis, of which the male has yellow plumage with a black forehead, wings, and tail.
2. A small eurasian finch (Carduelis carduelis) having brownish plumage with black wings boldly marked with yellow and a red patch across the face.

1. A small passerine bird of the finch family; the european goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis, the american goldfinch, Carduelis tristis, lawrence's goldfinch, Carduelis lawrencei, or the lesser goldfinch, Carduelis psaltria.

1. A beautiful bright-colored european finch (Carduelis elegans). the name refers to the large patch of yellow on the wings. the front of the head and throat are bright red; the nape, with part of the wings and tail, black; -- called also goldspink, goldie, fool's coat, drawbird, draw-water, thistle finch, and sweet William.
2. the yellow-hammer.
3. A small american finch (Spinus tristis); the thistle bird.

1. an elegant european siskin or thistle-bird, Carduelis elegans, of the family Fringillidæ, having wings conspicuously marked with yellow, and a crimson face.
2. the american thistle-bird, Chrysomitris tristis, of the family Fringillidæ, having a yellow body, with black cap, wings, and tail, the latter marked also with white.
3. some finch like or likened to either of the above, as the Arkansan goldfinch, Chry-somitris psaltria.
4. the yellow bunting, Emberiza citrinella: a misnomer.
5. A gold piece; a sovereign.
6. in angling, the name of an artificial salmon-fly.

1. american finch whose male has yellow body plumage in summer
2. small european finch having a crimson face and yellow-and-black wings