dickcissel

noun

dick·​cis·​sel dik-ˈsi-səl How to pronounce dickcissel (audio)
ˈdik-ˌsi-
: a common migratory black-throated finch (Spiza americana of the family Cardinalidae) of the central U.S.

Illustration of dickcissel

Illustration of dickcissel

Examples of dickcissel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Also reported were a dickcissel at Elm Hill Sanctuary in North Brookfield, a Lapland longspur at the Uxbridge Community Gardens, and six white-winged crossbills in Templeton. — BostonGlobe.com, 30 Oct. 2021 Other sightings included a little gull and five Forster’s terns at Revere Beach, a late eastern kingbird at Belle Isle in East Boston along with a gray-cheeked thrush, a dickcissel, and a yellow-breasted chat. — Maria Elena Little Endara, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Oct. 2022

Word History

Etymology

imitative

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dickcissel was in 1874

Rhymes for dickcissel

See All Rhymes for dickcissel

Browse Nearby Words

dickcissel
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dickcissel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dickcissel. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on dickcissel

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dickcissel

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All