pinsçoun (s.xii)
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pinsçoun (s.xii)

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[ gdw]

[ FEW: 8,518b *pincio; Gdf: ∅; GdfC: 10,341c pinson; TL: 7,957 pinçon; DEAF:  pinçon; DMF:  pinson; TLF:  pinson; OED: ∅; MED: ∅; DMLBS: ∅ ]
pinceon,  pinchun,  pinçon  

While the FEW/TLF interpret the etymology of the word as being onomatopoeic and imitating the call of this type of bird, the Anglo-Norman spellings suggest an association with the verb pincer (‘to pinch, nip’) and its derivations pinchures and pinçons1 (‘pincers, tongs’), perhaps not improbable for a bird with a pronounced beak.

s.

1orn.zool.finch, small songbird with a strong conical beak (Fringilla): 
( MS: s.xii )  frugellus: pinchun  i 21
( c.1195; MS: s.xiii4/4 )  N’i avreit il comparison Plus ke de l’egle e del pinçon  1410
( s.xiii2; MS: s.xivm )  Oiseals chauntaunz en cele arberie Escotoi de douce Melodie [...] De charderole, praer, [...], Egle, pinceon, perdriz e jaunt  81
( MS: c.1275 )  Pinsçoun: spink  27
pincevole 
This is an AND2 Phase 4 (N-O/U-P-Q) entry. © 2013-17 The Anglo-Norman Dictionary. All rights reserved. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council of the United Kingdom.
pinsçoun