Definition of: ortolan

(ôr′tə·lən) noun
1. An Old World bunting (Emberiza hortulana) reddish-green above with blackish spots, and with a greenish-gray head: highly esteemed as a table delicacy.
2. Any of several other birds, as the reedbird or bobolink of the United States. [<F <Provençal <Ital. ortolano a gardener <L hortulanus <hortulus, dim. of hortus a garden; so called because it frequents gardens]