From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Sparrow \Spar"row\, n. [OE. sparwe, AS. spearwa; akin to OHG.
sparo, G. sperling, Icel. sp["o]rr, Dan. spurv, spurre, Sw.
sparf, Goth. sparwa; -- originally, probably, the quiverer or
flutterer, and akin to E. spurn. See {Spurn}, and cf.
{Spavin}.]
1. (Zool.) One of many species of small singing birds of the
family {Fringilligae}, 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}.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Zool.) Any one of several small singing birds somewhat
resembling the true sparrows in form or habits, as the
European hedge sparrow. See under {Hedge}.
[1913 Webster]
He that doth the ravens feed,
Yea, providently caters for the sparrow,
Be comfort to my age! --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
{Field sparrow}, {Fox sparrow}, etc. See under {Field},
{Fox}, etc.
{Sparrow bill}, a small nail; a castiron shoe nail; a
sparable.
{Sparrow hawk}. (Zool.)
(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.
{Sparrow owl} (Zool.), 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.
{Sparrow spear} (Zool.), the female of the reed bunting.
[Prov. Eng.]
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
sparrow
n 1: any of several small dull-colored singing birds feeding on
seeds or insects [syn: {sparrow}, {true sparrow}]
2: small brownish European songbird [syn: {hedge sparrow},
{sparrow}, {dunnock}, {Prunella modularis}]
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