ortolan

[O. Fr. hortolan (Fr. ortolan ), from O. Ital. hortolano =(1) a gardener, (2) an ortolan, from Lat. hortulanus =(a.) belonging to a garden, (s.) a gardener, from hortulus a little garden, dim in. of hortus =a garden; Ital. ortolano.] 1. Ord. Lang.: A gardener. "I yield myself entirely to the will and pleasure of the most notable ortolan ."- State Papers , 1536. 2. Ornith.: Emberiza hortulana (Linn.), a native of continental Europe and Western Asia, migrating southward in winter, though it is unknown whither, returning about the end of April or the end of May. In appearance and habits it much resembles the Yellow-hammer, but the head is greenish-gray. Or tolans are netted in great number, and fed in a darkened room with oats and other grain. Ina short time they become exceedingly fat, and are then killed for the table. "Live, if his estates would bear it, On turtle, ortolans , and claret." Cawthorn: The Lottery. In French the word ortolan is used almost as= English Bunting; thus, ortolan de neige = Snow Bunting (Plectrophanes nival is); ortolan de riz = Rice-bird, or Bob-o'-link, of this country ( Dolichonyх oryzivorus); and in some of the Antilles where French is spoken the name is applied to a little Ground Dove of the genus Chamæpelia. The Wheatear ( Saxicola ænanthe) is the English ortolan. or-tyx, s . [ Gr.ortyx =a quail.] Ornith.: A genus of Perdicinæ. Bill short, very high, the tip hooked; lateral toes, unequal; hinder toe, none. Confined to America. Ortyx virginia nus is the Virgin i an Quail. or-val, s . [Fr. orvale , from or =gold, and valoir =to be worth; hence, lit., worth (its weight in) gold.] The herb Clary (q. v.). *or-vi-e-tan, s. [Ital. orvietano ; Fr. orviétan ; Sp. orvietan , so called because invented by Girolano Ferrante, a celebrated charlatan at Orvieto, in Italy.] An antidote or counter-poison; an electuary believed to have the quality of counteracting poison. Also called Venice treacle. "With these drugs will I, this very day, compound the true orrietan , that noble medicine, which is so seldom found genuine." -Scott: Kenilworth, ch. xiii. or-y-al, 8. [ORIEL.]