canary bird

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• (Zoöl.) A small singing bird of the Finch family (Serinus Canarius), a native of the Canary Islands. It was brought to Europe in the 16th century, and made a household pet. It generally has a yellowish body with the wings and tail greenish, but in its wild state it is more frequently of gray or brown color. It is sometimes called canary finch.
• (Bot.) a climbing plant (Tropæolum peregrinum) with canary-colored flowers of peculiar form; -- called also canary vine.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun any of several small Old World finches