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finches

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finches

 

  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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}. 
 
  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.  (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}. 
 
  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. 
 
  {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.]




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