Spink

/spɪŋk/ · noun

Meaning

(obsolete, dialectal) The chaffinch..

Definitions by Sense

1. (obsolete, dialectal) The chaffinch.
2. The primrose.
3. The lady's smock or cuckooflower.
4. (intransitive, uncommon, of certain birds, especially chaffinchs and blackbirds) To call or vocalize.

Example Sentences

The Chaffinches ‘‘spinked” as though its presence was not required, but it seemed to be feeding on insects only.

The Linnet called “ Chivvey ” can tweet and spink and song-sing, and is full of clicks and jars, like the other.

Woodpig was rootling for worms up the brook when he was surprised to see Chaffinch, "spinking" at him from a hazel twig.

And his voice sounded good, too, and loud and clear, and he put two of his fingers into his mouth and whistled, a piercing, high-pitched scream of a whistle, and there was a sudden silence as though the noise had penetrated the brain of all things and stunned movement; but in a second the spinking blackbird began again his yittering, and all were at song again.

The cry of this species, which consists of a number of rapidly ‘‘spinking” notes, reminds me of that of the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in the United States.

6 DECEMBER The winter sun is a flat blade of white on the horizon. Blackbirds are spinking, a charmless sound, done by rote.

Somewhere in the five gardens, a blackbird spinked, petulantly.

Synonyms for spink

Antonyms for spink

Related Words

Word Forms

• spinks
• spinking
• spinked

Usage Notes

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