a member of a body of high officials of the Roman Catholic Church whose powers include the election of a new pope
a deep scarlet colour
any of several species of finches of the USA, the male of which has bright red plumage: subfamily Cardinalinae
cardinalate /-dinələt, -dinəlayt/ noun
cardinalship noun
[Middle English via Old French from Latin cardinalis of a hinge, from cardin-, cardo hinge; (senses 2, 3) from the colour of a cardinal's robes]