Any one of several species of fringilline birds of the genera
Linota,
Acanthis, and allied genera, esp. the common European species (
Linota cannabina), which, in full summer plumage, is chestnut brown above, with the breast more or less crimson. The feathers of its head are grayish brown, tipped with crimson. Called also
gray linnet,
red linnet,
rose linnet,
brown linnet,
lintie,
lintwhite,
gorse thatcher,
linnet finch, and
greater redpoll. The American redpoll linnet (
Acanthis linaria) often has the crown and throat rosy. See
Redpoll, and
Twite. [
1913 Webster]