chiffchaff

[ chif-chaf, -chahf ]

noun

1. a common, greenish Old World warbler, Phylloscopus collybita.

chiffchaff

/ ˈtʃɪfˌtʃæf /

noun

1. a common European warbler, Phylloscopus collybita, with a yellowish-brown plumage

Word History and Origins

Origin of chiffchaff¹

First recorded in 1770–80; gradational compound; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of chiffchaff¹

C18: imitative of its call

Example Sentences

A grey partridge can be seen waiting for more chicks to hatch, while tucked away in its nest built out of tightly woven grass is a chiffchaff.

From BBC

In Europe, the cuckoo, blackcap, wren and chiffchaff fly up the list.

From The Guardian

Many resident bird species are rising in numbers; as are short-distance migrants such as the blackcap and chiffchaff.

From The Guardian

Elf, who goes by a teenage nickname that stuck, says if the show, “ChiffChaff”, has a serious approach to economics, it is to give the audience “a new relationship to that word”.

From Reuters

He was the first person to identify the chiffchaff, willow warbler and woodwarbler as three distinct species based on their songs.

From The Guardian