Where does “American goldfinch” come from?
American goldfinch (English) comes from English goldfinch, from Middle English goldfinch, from Old English goldfinċ, from Old English gold, from Proto-Germanic gulþą, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰl̥tóm, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰelh₃- — to flourish; green, yellow.
American goldfinch (English): Spinus tristis, a species of true finch
Definitions
- Spinus tristis, a species of true finch
Ancestry of “American goldfinch”, step by step
American goldfinch traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English goldfinch
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | goldfinch | Any of several small passerine birds of the finch... |
| 2 | Middle English | goldfinch | — |
| 3 | Old English | goldfinċ | goldfinch bird |
| 4 | Old English | gold | gold |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | gulþą | gold |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰl̥tóm | gold |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰelh₃- | to flourish; green, yellow |
via English american
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | american | A citizen or national of the United States of America |
| 2 | English | -n | Alternative form of -en; API; Alternative form of... |
| 3 | Old Norse | -inn | Used to create adjectives from nouns, meaning... |
| 4 | Proto-Norse | -īna- | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | -īnaz | -en |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -iHnos | Creates adjectives of materials |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -no- | adjectival suffix |