troupial

[ troo-pee-uhl ]

noun

1. any of several American birds of the family Icteridae, especially one with brilliantly colored plumage, as Icterus icterus, of South America.

troupial

/ ˈtruːpɪəl /

noun

1. any of various American orioles of the genus Icterus , esp I. icterus , a bright orange-and-black South American bird

Word History and Origins

Origin of troupial¹

First recorded in 1815–25, troupial is from the French word troupiale (so called from its gregariousness). See troop, -ial

Word History and Origins

Origin of troupial¹

C19: from French troupiale , from troupe flock; referring to its gregarious habits

Example Sentences

Troupial, Troopial, trōō′pi-al, n. a bird of the family Icterid�, the Hang-nests, famed for its exquisite song.

From Project Gutenberg

Of the remaining two one is a finch, the other a troupial; the first a pretty bird, in appearance a small hawfinch with its whole plumage a lovely glaucous blue; a poor singer with a low rambling song: the second a bird of the size of a starling, coloured like a golden oriole, but more brilliant; and this one has a short impetuous song composed of mixed guttural and clear notes.

From Project Gutenberg

Other Coolidge pets: Do-Funny, trained troupial, tweaker of ears; Old Bill, thrush; Peter Pan, first Coolidge dog; Paul Pry, half-brother of President Harding's famed Laddie Boy; Rob Roy, Wisconsin sheepherding collie who disliked the White House elevator, who stole dainties from the Red Room tea table and was ever to be seen at the President's side.

From Time Magazine Archive

Flocks of birds, a kind of troupial, were flying past me overhead, flock succeeding flock, on their way to their roosting-place, uttering as they flew a clear, bell-like chirp; and there was something ethereal too in those drops of melodious sound, which fell into my heart like raindrops falling into a pool to mix their fresh heavenly water with the water of earth.

From Project Gutenberg

In the various species of the genus Cnipolegus, already mentioned, the difference in the sexes is just as great as in the case of the troupial: the solitary, intensely black, statuesque male has, we have seen, a set and highly fantastic performance; but on more than one occasion I have seen four or five females of one species meet together and have a little simple performance all to themselves—in form a kind of lively mock fight.

From Project Gutenberg