sparrow

 
Pronunciation: /ˈsparəʊ/

noun

  • 1a small finch-like Old World bird related to the weaver birds, typically with brown and grey plumage.
    • Family Passeridae (or Ploceidae): four genera, in particular Passer, and many species, e.g. the cosmopolitan house sparrow (P. domesticus)
  • 2 [usually with modifier] any of a number of birds that resemble true sparrows in size or colour:
    • an American bunting (many genera in the subfamily Emberizinae, family Emberizidae). a waxbill, in particular the Java sparrow. see hedge sparrow

Origin:

Old English spearwa, of Germanic origin