Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Sparrow
Spar′row
,Noun.
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
. ☞ 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.
(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
. He that doth the ravens feed,
Yea, providently caters for the
Be comfort to my age!
Yea, providently caters for the
sparrow
,Be comfort to my age!
Shakespeare
Field sparrow
, Fox sparrow
, 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
). 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.]
Webster 1828 Edition
Sparrow
SPAR'ROW
,Noun.