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sparrow
sparrow common name of various small brown-and-gray perching birds. New World birds called sparrows are members of the finch family. They were named for their resemblance to the English sparrow and the European tree sparrow (members of the weaverbird family), both introduced in the Americas. Members of both groups have stout, conical beaks adapted to seed eating. Among the many sparrows found in the United States are the song sparrow, the white-throated sparrow (or peabody bird), and the chipping, white-crowned, vesper, Lincoln's, fox, field, tree, and swamp sparrows. Sparrows are valuable to farmers in destroying weed seeds. Originally sparrow meant any small bird; the word appears in this sense in Greek mythology and in the Scriptures. |
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"sparrow." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sparrow." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-sparrow.html "sparrow." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-sparrow.html |
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sparrow
sparrow Any of a number of small finch-like birds that live in or around human settlements. Typical is the house sparrow. The male has a chestnut mantle, grey crown and rump, and black bib. The female is duller and lacks the bib and grey rump. Sparrows feed, roost, and dust-bathe in noisy, twittering flocks. Basically seed-eaters, with a preference for grain, they are widely regarded as pests. They also eat fruit, worms, and household scraps. Length: 14.5cm (5.75in). Family Ploceidae; species Passer domesticus.
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"sparrow." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sparrow." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-sparrow.html "sparrow." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-sparrow.html |
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sparrow
spar·row / ˈsparō/ • n. 1. a small finchlike Old World bird (Passer and other genera, family Passeridae or Ploceidae) related to the weaverbirds, typically with brown and gray plumage. 2. any of a number of birds that resemble true sparrows in size or color, including an American bunting and a waxbill. |
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"sparrow." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sparrow." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-sparrow.html "sparrow." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-sparrow.html |
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Sparrow
Sparrow AIM-7 an air-to-air radar-guided, medium-range missile that carries a nonnuclear warhead. It was first developed in the late 1950s. It is slowly being phased out because of its sometimes disappointing performance in combat.
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"Sparrow." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Sparrow." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-Sparrow.html "Sparrow." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-Sparrow.html |
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sparrow
sparrow OE. spearwa = OHG. sparo, MHG. sparwe, ON. spǫrr, Goth. sparwa :- Gmc. *sparwan-, *sparwaz.
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T. F. HOAD. "sparrow." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "sparrow." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-sparrow.html T. F. HOAD. "sparrow." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-sparrow.html |
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sparrow
sparrow
•arrow, barrow, farrow, harrow, Jarrow, marrow, narrow, sparrow, taro, tarot, Varro, yarrow
•gabbro • Avogadro • Afro • aggro
•macro • cilantro • Castro
•wheelbarrow
•Faro, Kilimanjaro, Pissarro, Pizarro, Tupamaro
•Pedro • allegro • hedgerow • velcro
•escrow
•metro, retro
•electro • Jethro
•bolero, caballero, dinero, Faeroe, pharaoh, ranchero, sombrero, torero
•scarecrow • Ebro
•Montenegro, Negro
•repro • in vitro • Pyrrho • synchro
•windrow • impro • intro • bistro
•Babygro • McEnroe
•biro, Cairo, giro, gyro, tyro
•fibro • micro • maestro
•borrow, Corot, morrow, sorrow, tomorrow
•cockcrow • cointreau
•Moro, Sapporo, Thoreau
•Mindoro • Yamoussoukro
•Woodrow
•burro, burrow, furrow
•upthrow
•De Niro, hero, Nero, Pierrot, Pinero, Rio de Janeiro, sub-zero, zero
•bureau, chiaroscuro, Douro, enduro, euro, Ishiguro, Oruro, Truro
•Politburo • guacharo • Diderot
•vigoro • Prospero • Cicero • in utero
•Devereux • Jivaro • overthrow
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"sparrow." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sparrow." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-sparrow.html "sparrow." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-sparrow.html |
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