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ˈwax-bill
a. n. Any one of numerous small birds of the Ploceidæ or Weaver-bird family, whose bills have a waxy appearance; esp. one of the genus Estrelda, the best-known species being E. astrild of South Africa.
1751G. Edwards Nat. Hist. Birds iv. 179 The Wax Bill... The Bill is of..a fine red Colour, like Sealing-Wax, which I suppose gave the Bird its Name. 1769Lady M. Coke Jrnl. 19 Aug. (1892) III. 137 The two little birds the East India Capt. gave me..seem to be the same as some of the Duchess of Montagu's and I think she calls them wax bills. 1851–61Mayhew Lond. Labour II. 72 In St. Helena birds, known also as wax-bills and red-backs, there is a trade to the same extent. 1875–84E. L. Layard Birds S. Africa 470. 1909 Westm. Gaz. 17 July 14/3 The name waxbill is another of those misleading trade names that cover many species of small birds of different genera which have brightly coloured bills resembling sealing-wax.
b. attrib. or adj. = next.
1776P. Brown Illustr. Zool. 72 White-tailed Wax-bill Finch. 1783Latham Gen. Synopsis Birds II. i. 152 Wax⁓bill Grosbeak. |