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A.Word.A.Day--tautonym tautonym (TAU-tuh-nim) noun A scientific name in which the generic and the specific names are the same, as Chloris chloris (the greenfinch). [Greek tautxnymos of the same name, equiv. to tauto- + -nymos named.] "... the name of the Bank Swallow becomes the tautonym Riparia riparia ...." Elliott Coues, 100 years ago in the Auk: Notes on generic names of certain Swallows, The Auk, 1 Jul 1998. This week's theme: words about words. X-Bonus When you want to test the depths of a stream, don't use both feet. -Chinese Proverb

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