Definition of "oriole" []

• Any of various Old World passerine birds of the family Oriolidae, of which the males are characteristically black and bright yellow or orange. (noun)
• Any of various similar New World birds of the family Icteridae. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Hang pieces of colored yarn near the place where the oriole is building its nest, and the bird seizes upon them eagerly and weaves them into the structure, not mindful at all of the obvious incongruity."
• "Mr. Wilson says the Baltimore oriole is not found in the pine countries, and yet they are common birds here – regular members of our summer flock; and we have remarked they are very often seen and heard among the pines of the churchyard; it is quite a favorite haunt of theirs."
• "The pensile nest of the oriole is more striking and peculiar, as well as much more neat than any other."