noun
oriole
OR-ee-ohl/ˈɔːriəʊl/
A songbird with bright plumage, often yellow or orange with black.
The male oriole perches on the branch in bright orange-and-black plumage.
Etymology
Latin aureolus, “golden,” describes the rich yellow plumage of the European golden oriole. The name was later extended to similarly colored North American birds, including the orange-and-black Baltimore oriole.
In context
The male Bullock's oriole has a black crown and orange cheeks, while the male Baltimore oriole has a completely black head.
More examples
- Two orioles visit the feeder for slices of orange.
- The oriole weaves a hanging nest in the elm tree.
- We spot a bright yellow oriole among the leaves.
Forms
oriole · orioles