α.
a1522 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil (1960) xii. Prol. l. 240 Goldspynk and lyntquhite fordynnand the lyft.
c1550 (1979) vi. 31 The grene serene sang sueit quhen the gold spynk chantit.
1636 A. Montgomerie (new ed.) sig. A2 Where nightingals their nots renews With gallant Goldspinks gay.
1710 G. Liddell (ed. 10) ii. 12 When we behold the Gold Spink gay, With Colours deck'd so fine, Should we not spread our Maker's praise, On Things that are Divine?
1724 A. Ramsay (new ed.) I. 37 Nansy's to the Green Wood gane, To hear the Gowdspink chatring.
1793 R. Burns (1968) I. 356 The gowdspink, Music's gayest child.
1828 W. Carr (ed. 2) Goud-spink, gold-finch.
1842 R. Chambers (new ed.) 50 The king sent his lady on the sixth Yule day, Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges, and a pippin go aye.
1864 J. C. Shairp 28 A flight of goldspinks light, Some wintry day on a thistly field.
1880 W. Shelley in D. H. Edwards 1st Ser. 140 How heartsome the gowdspinks chirmed, ‘Sweet, laddie, sweet’!
1955 H. Williamson in 1 Dec. 1249/3 The goldspinks (goldfinches), the crimson and gold King Harries of East Anglia.
2009 P. McIntosh vi. 113 Last week there was two gowdspinks eating the thistles there, all red and yellow, right bonnie they were.