from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Oriole \O"ri*ole\, n. [OF. oriol, oriouz, orieus, F. loriot (for
l'oriol), fr. L. aureolus golden, dim. of aureus golden, fr.
aurum gold. Cf. {Aureole}, {Oriel}, {Loriot}.] (Zool.)
(a) Any one of various species of Old World singing birds of
the family {Oriolidae}. They are usually conspicuously
colored with yellow and black. The European or golden
oriole ({Oriolus galbula}, or {Oriolus oriolus}) has a
very musical flutelike note.
(b) In America, any one of several species of the genus
{Icterus}, belonging to the family {Icteridae}. See
{Baltimore oriole}, and {Orchard oriole}, under
{Orchard}.
[1913 Webster]
{Crested oriole}. (Zool.) See {Cassican}.
[1913 Webster]