chiffchaff

See also: chiff-chaff

English

Alternative forms

  • chiff-chaff

Etymology

Echoic of the repetitive "chiff-chaff" song of the European species, Phylloscopus collybita.

  • Audio:(file)

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈt͡ʃɪf.t͡ʃæf/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

chiffchaff (plural chiffchaffs)

  1. A small, common warbler, Phylloscopus collybita, with yellowish-green plumage that breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia.
  2. Any of several other species of the same genus.

Derived terms

Translations

Interjection

chiffchaff

  1. (UK, onomatopoeic, uncountable) The song of the chiffchaff.
    I thought I heard something singing chiffchaff, chiffchaff. So I had a look and there was a chiffchaff.

Translations

Further reading

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