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.
Definition 2024
Sparrow
sparrow
sparrow
See also: Sparrow
English
![](http://llc12.www.definify.com/images_main/Passer_domesticus3.jpg)
A male sparrow (Passer domesticus)
![](http://llc12.www.definify.com/images_main/House_sparrow04.jpg)
A female sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Noun
sparrow (plural sparrows)
- The house sparrow, Passer domesticus; a small bird with a short bill, and brown, white and gray feathers.
- A member of the family Passeridae, comprising small Old World songbirds.
- A member of the family Emberizidae, comprising small New World songbirds.
- Generically, any small, nondescript bird.
- (Britain, chiefly London) A quick-witted, lively person. Often used in the phrase cockney sparrow.
- 2005, Drama Faces: Martine McCutcheon, BBC
- Professional cockney sparrow Martine has acted since childhood.
- 1878, Ally Sloper's guide to the Paris exhibition, Charles Henry Ross, page 54:
- I take it there 's scarcely a happier fellow alive than your honest town-bred smoke-dried cockney sparrow.
- 2005, Drama Faces: Martine McCutcheon, BBC
Derived terms
Synonyms
Translations
Passer domesticus — see house sparrow
bird of the family Passeridae
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bird of the family Emberizidae
generically, any small, nondescript bird