yellowhammer
nounUK /ˈjɛl.əʊˌhæm.ə(ɹ)/ · US /ˈjɛl.oʊˌhæm.ɚ/
Etymology An alteration (influenced by hammer) of the earlier yelambre, yelamber, from Middle English *yelwambre, from yelwe (“yellow”) + *ambre (“yellowhammer”), from Old English amore, related to Old High German amaro (“yellowhammer”) (see modern German Ammer).
A passerine bird, Emberiza citrinella, of western Eurasia, which is mainly yellow in colour.
US The northern flicker, Colaptes auratus, a woodpecker with yellow underwings and undertail and often other yellowish underparts; one of its ways of feeding is to hammer on trees to find insects (adults and larvae) to eat.
A native or resident of the American state of Alabama.
- Related terms
- a little bit of bread and no cheese