ortolan
/ˈɔːt(ə)lən
/(also ortolan bunting)
noun
A small Eurasian songbird that was formerly eaten as a delicacy, the male having an olive-green head and yellow throat.
- Emberiza hortulana, family Emberizidae (subfamily Emberizinae).
- Dali was quite impressed, though he said he himself only ate ‘food with faces’ which meant fish and ortolans.
- Like Otto's thin-crusted, griddle-cooked pizza, possibly the most controversial foodstuff to hit Gotham since Le Cirque's ortolans.
Origin
Early 16th century: from French, from Provençal, literally 'gardener', based on a diminutive of Latin hortus 'garden'.