Linnet
/ˈlɪn.ɪt/noun
A small brownish finch that commonly feeds on seeds, especially those of flax and other plants.
Did you know?The linnet’s name comes from its historical association with flax seeds, giving this ordinary bird an unexpectedly ancient connection to textiles and written lines.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*līno-
“Flax or flax fiber; the reconstructed root behind later words for flax and linen materials.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
λίνον (linon)
“Flax; linen fiber or cloth.”
Classical Latin
Latin
līnum
“Flax; linen.”
Medieval French
Old French
linette
“A small flax-related thing; later used as the name of the flax-eating finch.”
14th Century
Middle English
linet
“The small finch now called a linnet.”
Modern English
English
linnet
“A small finch, especially the common linnet, known for its reddish breast and seed-eating habits.”