canary

/kəˈnɛri/

/kəˈnæri/

A canary is a small songbird, a finch known for its bright yellow feathers and beautiful singing. The word canary may also refer to a police informant, a singer, or a specific shade of yellow.

The canary is named after the Canary Islands, the native lands of this cheerful bird. Wild canaries vary in color, including mixtures of brown, red, black, white, and yellow. Domesticated canaries, commonly kept as pets, are usually of the yellow variety — hence the name of the color called canary. Because canaries are known for singing, people sometimes call a female singer a canary, or they may use the term to refer to a person who helps police by "singing" or snitching on others.

Definitions of canary

1. noun

   any of several small Old World finches
   synonyms: canary bird

   types:

   Serinus canaria, common canary

   native to the Canary Islands and Azores; popular usually yellow cage bird noted for its song

   type of:

   finch

   any of numerous small songbirds with short stout bills adapted for crushing seeds
2. noun

   a female singer
   type of:

   singer, vocaliser, vocalist, vocalizer

   a person who sings
3. adjective

   having the color of a light to moderate yellow
   synonyms: canary-yellow

   chromatic

   being, having, or characterized by hue
4. noun

   a light to moderate yellow with a greenish tint
   synonyms: canary yellow

   type of:

   yellow, yellowness

   yellow color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of sunflowers or ripe lemons
5. noun

   someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police
   synonyms: fink, sneak, sneaker, snitch, snitcher, stool pigeon, stoolie, stoolpigeon

   type of:

   betrayer, blabber, informer, rat, squealer

   one who reveals confidential information in return for money