sparrows
plural of sparrow
Source: Wiktionary
Spar"row, n. Etym: [OE. sparwe, AS. spearwa; akin to OHG. sparo, G. sperling, Icel. spörr, Dan. spurv, spurre, Sw. sparf, Goth. sparwa; - - originally, probably, the quiverer or flutterer, and akin to E. spurn. See Spurn, and cf. Spavin.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Definition: One of many species of small singing birds of the family Fringilligæ, having conical bills, and feeding chiefly on seeds. Many sparrows are called also finches, and buntings. The common sparrow, or house sparrow, of Europe (Passer domesticus) is noted for its familiarity, its voracity, its attachment to its young, and its fecundity. See House sparrow, under House.
Note: The following American species are well known; the chipping sparrow, or chippy, the sage sparrow, the savanna sparrow, the song sparrow, the tree sparrow, and the white-throated sparrow (see Peabody bird). See these terms under Sage, Savanna, etc.
2. (Zoöl.)
Definition: Any one of several small singing birds somewhat resembling the true sparrows in form or habits, as the European hedge sparrow. See under Hedge. He that doth the ravens feed, Yea, providently caters for the sparrow, Be comfort to my age! Shak. Field sparrow, Fox sparrow, etc. See under Field, Fox, etc.
– Sparrow bill, a small nail; a castiron shoe nail; a sparable.
РSparrow hawk. (Zo̦l.) (a) A small European hawk (Accipiter nisus) or any of the allied species. (b) A small American falcon (Falco sparverius). (c) The Australian collared sparrow hawk (Accipiter torquatus).
Note: The name is applied to other small hawks, as the European kestrel and the New Zealand quail hawk.
РSparrow owl (Zo̦l.), a small owl (Glaucidium passerinum) found both in the Old World and the New. The name is also applied to other species of small owls.
РSparrow spear (Zo̦l.), the female of the reed bunting. [Prov. Eng.]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
26 November 2024
(noun) (music) playing in a different key from the key intended; moving the pitch of a piece of music upwards or downwards
The first coffee-house in Mecca dates back to the 1510s. The beverage was in Turkey by the 1530s. It appeared in Europe circa 1515-1519 and was introduced to England by 1650. By 1675 the country had more than 3,000 coffee houses, and coffee had replaced beer as a breakfast drink.
