Cedarbird
/ˈsiː.dərˌbɝːd/noun
A North American cedar waxwing, a crested songbird that often feeds on cedar berries.
Did you know?The name refers to the bird’s fondness for cedar berries, although cedar waxwings also eat many other fruits, including juniper and mistletoe berries.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic / Ancient Near Eastern borrowing
Semitic
*qaṯir / related forms
“A probable ancient source for the cedar word, though the exact borrowing pathway is debated.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
κέδρος (kédros)
“Cedar or juniper-like aromatic tree.”
Classical Latin
Latin
cedrus
“Cedar tree; the source of English cedar through Romance languages.”
Middle English
English
cedre
“Cedar, an aromatic evergreen tree.”
19th Century
English
cedar bird / cedarbird
“A popular North American name for the cedar waxwing, inspired by its habit of eating cedar berries.”
Modern English
English
cedarbird
“The cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum.”