xílgaro

Galician

Alternative forms

  • cílgaro, sílgaro, xírgaro

Etymology

Obscure. Related to Spanish jilguero, which derives from an older silguero; perhaps from sirgo (silk),[1] but the suffix -aro is usually found in pre-Latin words. Compare also Portuguese pintassilgo.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ˈʃilɣɐɾʊ]

Noun

xílgaro m (plural xílgaros)

  1. goldfinch, Eurasian goldfinch, European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
    Synonyms: barroso, picacardos, pintasilgo, xilgueiro
    • 1853, Juan Manuel Pintos, A Gaita Gallega:
      un sinfín de paxaros ben cantores
      reiseñores o xílgaro e o sirín
      an endless number of singing birds:
      nightingales, the goldfinch and the serin

References

  1. ^ Joan Coromines, José A[ntonio] Pascual (1983–1991) “jilguero”, in Diccionario crítico etimológico castellano e hispánico [Critical Castilian and Hispanic Etymological Dictionary] (in Spanish), Madrid: Gredos