Main Entry:

spar·row

Pronunciation:

\ˈspa-(ˌ)rō\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English sparow, from Old English spearwa; akin to Old High German sparo sparrow

Date:

before 12th century

1: any of a genus (Passer of the family Passeridae) of small chiefly brownish or grayish Old World oscine songbirds that include some which have been widely introduced ; especially : house sparrow2: any of numerous finches (family Emberizidae) that are New World birds (as the song sparrow or tree sparrow) resembling the Old World sparrows

— spar·row·like \-rō-ˌlīk, -rə-ˌlīk\ adjective