Word Study
nuthatch
CIDE DICTIONARY
nuthatch, n. [OE. nuthake. See 2d Hack.].
Any one of several species of birds of the genus Sitta , as the European species (Sitta Europæa ). The white-breasted nuthatch (Sitta Carolinensis ), the red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta Canadensis ), the pygmy nuthatch (Sitta pygmæa ), and others, are American. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
nuthatch, n. any small bird of the family Sittidae, climbing up and down tree-trunks and feeding on nuts, insects, etc.
Etymology
NUT + hatch rel. to HATCH(2)
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