SPARROW • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Sparrow

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/spˈɛroʊ/ Listen

noun

Sparrow n.

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. 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.

(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 sparrow, Be comfort to my age!"

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.)

See images of 'Sparrow'

Etymology of 'Sparrow'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Sparrow" Quotes from Famous Books

... gratitude, the young hunters sat with bowed heads while the kindly old sailor offered up a simple, fervent prayer of thanksgiving for the mercies they had received from the One who heeds even the sparrow's fall. ...

— The Boy Chums in the Forest - or Hunting for Plume Birds in the Florida Everglades • Wilmer M. Ely

... the condition of the travellers was most deplorable. Richard with the view of obtaining some refreshment for his brother, went into the wood and shot the only bird he saw, which was not much bigger than the sparrow. With this, he returned, made a fire, and prepared a little soup in a half-pint cup, which for want of salt, was rather unsavoury, nevertheless it was of service to his brother; the flesh of the bird, Richard divided between himself and his man, both of them being ...

— Lander's Travels - The Travels of Richard Lander into the Interior of Africa • Robert Huish

... slowly turning, The great wheel of the mill; And then the tall church steeple, The little church so still; The bridge above the water; And when he stopped to rest, He saw among the bushes A wee ground-sparrow's nest, ...

— Finger plays for nursery and kindergarten • Emilie Poulsson

... haven't seen you for a week," he said one morning, shaking me by the shoulders till my teeth chattered. "What about the other little sparrow you neglected me for on Sunday? Is she at least good-looking? A model? And she is a good girl and supports her widowed mother and ten brothers and sisters, I suppose? And she calls herself Fanchette? ...

— The Beloved Vagabond • William J. Locke

... be ignored? The theology that has nothing to say about my clever and loyal four-footed companion, with his magnanimity, his sensitive spirit, and even his moral qualities, omits something of considerable importance to a thorough and consistent world-view. "Not a sparrow falleth to the ground without your Father," said one who spake as never man spake. I think it was Schopenhauer who once remarked, "The more I see of human nature the more I respect my dog." Now the New ...

— The New Theology • R. J. Campbell

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