'Song sparrow' definitions:

Definition of 'song sparrow'

From: WordNet
noun
Small songbird common in North America [syn: song sparrow, Melospiza melodia]

Definition of 'Song sparrow'

From: GCIDE
  • Song \Song\ (s[o^]ng; 115), n. [AS. song, sang, fr. singan to sing; akin to D. zang, G. sang, Icel. s["o]ngr, Goth. saggws. See Sing.]
  • 1. That which is sung or uttered with musical modulations of the voice, whether of a human being or of a bird, insect, etc. "That most ethereal of all sounds, the song of crickets." --Hawthorne. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A lyrical poem adapted to vocal music; a ballad. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. More generally, any poetical strain; a poem. [1913 Webster]
  • The bard that first adorned our native tongue Tuned to his British lyre this ancient song. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Poetical composition; poetry; verse. [1913 Webster]
  • This subject for heroic song. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. An object of derision; a laughingstock. [1913 Webster]
  • And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword. --Job xxx. 9. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. A trifle; an insignificant sum of money; as, he bought it for a song. "The soldier's pay is a song." --Silliman. [1913 Webster +PJC]
  • Old song, a trifle; nothing of value. "I do not intend to be thus put off with an old song." --Dr. H. More.
  • Song bird (Zool.), any singing bird; one of the Oscines.
  • Song sparrow (Zool.), a very common North American sparrow (Melospiza fasciata, or Melospiza melodia) noted for the sweetness of its song in early spring. Its breast is covered with dusky brown streaks which form a blotch in the center.
  • Song thrush (Zool.), a common European thrush ({Turdus musicus}), noted for its melodius song; -- called also mavis, throstle, and thrasher. [1913 Webster]
  • Syn: Sonnet; ballad; canticle; carol; canzonet; ditty; hymn; descant; lay; strain; poesy; verse. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'song sparrow'

From: 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]