sparrow : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: sparrow	by the DICT Development Group
3 results for sparrow
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
sparrow n any of several small dull-colored singing birds feeding on seeds or insects Synonym(s): sparrow, true sparrow small brownish European songbird Synonym(s): hedge sparrow, sparrow, dunnock, Prunella modularis
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Sparrow \Spar"row\, n. [OE. sparwe, AS. spearwa; akin to OHG. sparo, G. sperling, Icel. sp[94]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[94]l.) One of many species of small singing birds of the family {Fringillig[91]}, 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[94]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[94]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[94]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[94]l.), the female of the reed bunting. [Prov. Eng.]
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:
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.