aberdevine

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  1. The siskin, Chrysomitris spinus, a well-known European bird of the finch family (Fringillidæ), nearly related to the goldfinch, and somewhat resembling the green variety of the canary-bird. See siskin. Also spelled. aberdavine, abadevine. [Local, Eng.] About London, the siskin is called the aberdevine by bird-catchers. Rennie, ed. of Montagu's Dict., 1831, p. 2.
  2. [The word (aberdevine) is not now in use, if it ever was. I believe it was first published by Albin (1737), and that it was a bird-catchers' or bird-dealers' name about London; but I suspect it may have originated in a single bird-dealer, who coined it to give fictitious value to a common bird for which he wanted to get a good price. Book-writers have gone on repeating Albin's statement without adding any new information, and I have never met with any one who called the siskin or any other bird by this name. No suggestion as to its etymology seems possible. Prof. A. Newton, letter.]

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