waxbill

noun

wax·​bill ˈwaks-ˌbil How to pronounce waxbill (audio)
: any of numerous Old World oscine birds (family Estrildidae, especially genus Estrilda) having white, pink, or reddish bills of a waxy appearance

Examples of waxbill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But one little sucker remained elusive: the violet-eared waxbill. Jeffrey Gettleman, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1757, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of waxbill was in 1757

Dictionary Entries Near waxbill

Cite this Entry

“Waxbill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waxbill. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on waxbill

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!