What does trochilus mean?
Trochilus is a rare English word with two historical bird senses. Its best-known ornithological use is for a hummingbird, particularly a member of the genus Trochilus, a group of small hummingbirds found in the Americas. In older writing, however, trochilus could mean a wren, following the word's Greek and Latin history. The term is now uncommon in general conversation but may appear in early modern natural histories, literary descriptions of birds, museum catalogues, and specialized zoological writing. It should not be treated as an everyday substitute for either hummingbird or wren without regard to context, because the two meanings belong to different periods of usage. For a general reader, trochilus is especially interesting because it preserves both an older name for a familiar garden bird and the scientific naming tradition used for hummingbirds.
nounA rare or old-fashioned name for a hummingbird, especially a hummingbird belonging to the genus Trochilus. In older English, the word could also mean a wren.
- A hummingbird, especially one belonging to the zoological genus Trochilus.
- Archaic: a wren.
"The naturalist described the iridescent bird as a trochilus, using the term for a hummingbird."
"Early naturalists sometimes applied the name trochilus to the smallest hummingbirds they encountered."
"The museum catalogue identifies the specimens as belonging to the genus Trochilus."
This plural is especially used in ornithological contexts for members of the genus Trochilus.
"The expedition brought back several trochili for study."
Trochilus has led a double life: the same name has referred both to a tiny wren and to the glittering birds that hover before flowers.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does trochilus come from?
English trochilus comes through Latin from Ancient Greek τροχίλος, a word for the wren. The Greek term passed into Latin and then into English, where it was used for a wren before also becoming associated with hummingbirds. Modern ornithological usage further established it in the generic name Trochilus for a group of hummingbirds.
How trochilus is actually used
The word is uncommon in ordinary modern English and occurs chiefly in literary, historical, or ornithological contexts. Its application to hummingbirds is now the most familiar sense, while its older use for a wren is archaic.
Easily confused with trochilus
A trochilus is a rare name for a hummingbird or, historically, a wren, whereas a trochee is a metrical foot consisting of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one.