Sparrow

Sparrow
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. (Zo["o]l.) One of many species of small singing birds of the family {Fringillig[ae]}, 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. (Zo["o]l.) 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}. (Zo["o]l.) (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} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), the female of the reed bunting. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Sparrow — (englisch für Sperling) ist der Name einer US amerikanischen Luft Luft und Boden Luft Rakete, siehe AIM 7 Sparrow und RIM 7 Sea Sparrow ein Film von Johnnie To, siehe The Sparrow der Name der ersten kraweelbeplankten Karacke in Europa im Dienste… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Sparrow — (en cantonais : 文雀, Man jeuk) est une comédie policière hongkongaise de Johnnie To sortie en 2008. Tourné sur trois ans entre 2005 et 2008, le film met en scène les acteurs « habituels » du réalisateur, Simon Yam, Kelly Lin et… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • sparrow — [spar′ō] n. [ME sparwe < OE spearwa, akin to MHG sparwe < IE base * sper , bird name, esp. for sparrow > Gr sporgilos, sparrow, psar, starling] 1. any of a family (Passeridae) of Old World passerine birds, including the English sparrow 2 …   English World dictionary

  • SPARROW — (Heb. צִפּוֹר דְּרוֹר, ẓippor deror or דְּרוֹר, deror, but sometimes the word ẓippor bird refers to the sparrow), the Passer domesticus biblicus, the house sparrow, which is the most common bird in Israel during all seasons of the years. It… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • sparrow — (n.) small brownish gray bird, O.E. spearwa, from P.Gmc. *sparwan (Cf. O.N. spörr, O.H.G. sparo, Ger. Sperling, Goth. sparwa), from PIE *sper (Cf. Cornish frau crow; O.Prus. spurglis sparrow; Gk. spergoulos small field bird …   Etymology dictionary

  • sparrow — ► NOUN ▪ a small bird with brown and grey plumage. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • Sparrow — For other uses, see Sparrow (disambiguation). Sparrows A male House Sparrow Scientific classification …   Wikipedia

  • sparrow — sparrowless, adj. sparrowlike, adj. /spar oh/, n. 1. any of numerous American finches of the family Emberizinae. Cf. chipping sparrow, song sparrow. 2. any member of the Old World genus Passer, formerly thought to be closely related to the… …   Universalium

  • sparrow — noun Etymology: Middle English sparow, from Old English spearwa; akin to Old High German sparo sparrow Date: before 12th century 1. any of a genus (Passer of the family Passeridae) of small chiefly brownish or grayish Old World oscine songbirds… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sparrow — n. 1 any small brownish grey bird of the genus Passer, esp. the house sparrow and tree sparrow. 2 any of various birds of similar appearance such as the hedge sparrow. Phrases and idioms: sparrow grass dial. or colloq. asparagus. Etymology: OE… …   Useful english dictionary

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