canary seed

noun

: seed of a Canary Islands grass (Phalaris canariensis) used as food for cage birds

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of canary seed was in 1578

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Canary seed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canary%20seed. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!