ortolan

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: or=to=lan

CIDE DICTIONARY

ortolan, n. [F., fr. It. ortolano ortolan, gardener, fr. L. hortulanus gardener, fr. hortulus, dim. of hortus garden. So called because it frequents the hedges of gardens. See Yard an inclosure, and cf. Hortulan.].

 A European singing bird (Emberiza hortulana), about the size of the lark, with black wings. It is esteemed delicious food when fattened. Called also bunting.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

ortolan, n. (in full ortolan bunting) Zool. a small European bird, Emberiza hortulana, eaten as a delicacy.

Etymology

F f. Prov., lit. gardener, f. L hortulanus f. hortulus dimin. of hortus garden