passerina ciris

1 definition found

passerina ciris - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Nonpareil \Non`pa*reil"\, n. [See Nonpareil, a. ]
     1. Something of unequaled excellence; a peerless thing or
        person; a nonesuch; -- often used as a name.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. [F. nonpareille.] (Print.) A size of type next smaller
        than minion and next larger than agate (or ruby).
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: This line is printed in the type called nonpareil.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Zool.)
        (a) A beautifully colored finch (Passerina ciris),
            native of the Southern United States. The male has the
            head and neck deep blue, rump and under parts bright
            red, back and wings golden green, and the tail bluish
            purple. Called also painted bunting and painted  finch
            .
        (b) Any other similar bird of the same genus.
            [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     4. (Cookery) A small sphere, less than 1 mm diamter, of
        colored sugar, used to decorate confections; -- usually
        used in the plural as though the name of a substance; as,
        sprinkled with nonpareils.
        [PJC]
  
     5. pl. A type of candy chocolate consisting of a small flat
        disk of chocolate, less than one inch diameter, having
        nonpareils[4] sprinkled on the top; as, she ate a box of
        nonpareils at the movie.
        [PJC]