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4 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]
Savanna \Sa*van"na\, n. [Of American Indian origin; cf. Sp.
sabana, F. savane.]
A tract of level land covered with the vegetable growth
usually found in a damp soil and warm climate, -- as grass or
reeds, -- but destitute of trees. [Spelt also savannah.]
[1913 Webster]
Savannahs are clear pieces of land without woods.
--Dampier.
[1913 Webster]
Savanna flower (Bot.), a West Indian name for several
climbing apocyneous plants of the genus Echites.
Savanna sparrow (Zo["o]l.), an American sparrow
({Ammodramus sandwichensis or Passerculus savanna) of
which several varieties are found on grassy plains from
Alaska to the Eastern United States.
Savanna wattle (Bot.), a name of two West Indian trees of
the genus Citharexylum.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]
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. (Zo["o]l.) One of many species of small singing birds of
the family Fringillig[ae], 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. (Zo["o]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.
[1913 Webster]
He that doth the ravens feed,
Yea, providently caters for the sparrow,
Be comfort to my age! --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Field sparrow, Fox sparrow, etc. See under Field,
Fox, etc.
Sparrow bill, a small nail; a castiron shoe nail; a
sparable.
Sparrow hawk. (Zo["o]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["o]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["o]l.), the female of the reed bunting.
[Prov. Eng.]
[1913 Webster]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]
Savanna \Sa*van"na\, n. [Of American Indian origin; cf. Sp.
sabana, F. savane.]
A tract of level land covered with the vegetable growth
usually found in a damp soil and warm climate, -- as grass or
reeds, -- but destitute of trees. [Spelt also savannah.]
Savannahs are clear pieces of land without woods.
--Dampier.
Savanna flower (Bot.), a West Indian name for several
climbing apocyneous plants of the genus Echites.
Savanna sparrow (Zo["o]l.), an American sparrow
({Ammodramus sandwichensis or Passerculus savanna) of
which several varieties are found on grassy plains from
Alaska to the Eastern United States.
Savanna wattle (Bot.), a name of two West Indian trees of
the genus Citharexylum.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]
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. (Zo["o]l.) One of many species of small singing birds of
the family Fringillig[ae], 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["o]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["o]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["o]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["o]l.), the female of the reed bunting.
[Prov. Eng.]
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