Cardinal

1. (R. C. Ch.) One of the ecclesiastical princes who constitute the pope's council, or the sacred college.
2. A woman's short cloak with a hood.
3. Mulled red wine.
4. the cardinal bird, also called the northern cardinal.
Cardinal bird, or Cardinal grosbeak (Zoöl.),
an American song bird (Cardinalis cardinalis, or Cardinalis Virginianus), of the family Fringillidæ, or finches of which the male has a bright red plumage, and both sexes have a high, pointed crest on its head; -- it is also called the northern cardinal or eastern cardinal. The males have loud and musical notes resembling those of a fife. Other related species are also called cardinal birds.
Cardinal flower (Bot.),
an herbaceous plant (Lobelia cardinalis) bearing brilliant red flowers of much beauty.
Cardinal red ,
a color like that of a cardinal's cassock, hat, etc.; a bright red, darker than scarlet, and between scarlet and crimson.