- canary
- 1584, of the wine; 1655, of the songbirds (short for Canary-bird, 1576), from Fr. canarie, from Sp. canario, from L. Insula Canaria "Canary Island," largest of the Fortunate Isles, lit. "island of dogs," (canis, gen. canarius) since large dogs lived there. Hence, the name of the little bird from the island. The name was extended to the whole island group (Canariæ Insulæ) by the time of Arnobius (c.300).