Finch (?), n.; pl. Fishes (#). [AS. finc; akin to D. vink, OHG. fincho, G. fink; cf. W. pinc a finch; also E. spink.] Zool.
A small singing bird of many genera and species, belonging to the family Fringillidae.
⇒ The word is often used in composition, as in chaffinch, goldfinch, grassfinch, pinefinch, etc.
Bramble finch. See Brambling. -- Canary finch, the canary bird. -- Copper finch. See Chaffinch. -- Diamond finch. See under Diamond. -- Finch falcon Zool., one of several very small East Indian falcons of the genus Hierax. -- To pull a finch, to swindle an ignorant or unsuspecting person. [Obs.] "Privily a finch eke could he pull."
Chaucer.
© Webster 1913.