Sparrow

14 definitions retrieved

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.
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He that doth the ravens feed,
Yea, providently caters for the sparrow,
Be comfort to my age! --Shak.
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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]

sparrow
n 1: any of several small dull-colored singing birds feeding on
seeds or insects [syn: sparrow, true sparrow]

2: small brownish European songbird [syn: hedge sparrow,
sparrow, dunnock, Prunella modularis]

Sparrow
Mentioned among the offerings made by the very poor. Two
sparrows were sold for a farthing (Matt. 10:29), and five for
two farthings (Luke 12:6). The Hebrew word thus rendered is
_tsippor_, which properly denotes the whole family of small
birds which feed on grain (Lev. 14:4; Ps. 84:3; 102:7). The
Greek word of the New Testament is _strouthion_ (Matt.

10:29-31), which is thus correctly rendered.