yellowhammer

noun

yel·​low·​ham·​mer ˈye-lō-ˌha-mər 

ˈye-lə-

1

: a common Palearctic finch (Emberiza citrinella of the family Emberizidae) having the male largely yellow and chestnut

called also yellow bunting

2

: yellow-shafted flicker

Examples of yellowhammer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Nearly five million people live in Alabama, which takes its state nickname from the name of its state bird, the yellowhammer. —Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 7 June 2020

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier yelambre, from Middle English *yelwambre, from yelwe yellow + *ambre yellowhammer, from Old English amore; akin to Old High German amaro yellowhammer, amari emmer

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

yellowhammer

noun

yel·​low·​ham·​mer ˈyel-ō-ˌham-ər 

ˈyel-ə-

: yellow-shafted flicker