oscine

os·cine

adj \ˈä-ˌsīn\

Definition of OSCINE

: of or relating to a large suborder (Oscines) of passerine birds (as larks, shrikes, finches, orioles, and crows) characterized by a vocal apparatus highly specialized for singing

— oscine noun

Origin of OSCINE

New Latin Oscines, suborder name, from Latin, plural of oscin-, oscen songbird, bird giving omens by its cry, from obs-, ob- in front of, in the way + canere to sing — more at ob-, chant

First Known Use: 1883