Adjacent Words

Robin definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

ROB'IN, n. [L. rubecula, from rubeo, to be red.]
1. A bird of the genus Motacilla, called also redbreast. This is the English application of the word.
2. In the United States, a bird with a red breast, a species of Turdus.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: small Old World songbird with a reddish breast [syn: robin, redbreast, robin redbreast, Old World robin, Erithacus rubecola]
2: large American thrush having a rust-red breast and abdomen [syn: robin, American robin, Turdus migratorius]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: akin to Dutch dialect robijntje linnet, Frisian robyntsje Date: 1549 1. a. a small chiefly European thrush (Erithacus rubecula) resembling a warbler and having a brownish-olive back and orangish face and breast b. any of various Old World songbirds that are related to or resemble the European robin 2. a large North American thrush (Turdus migratorius) with olivaceous to slate-gray upperparts, blackish head and tail, black and whitish streaked throat, and dull reddish breast and underparts

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 (also robin redbreast) a small brown European bird, Erithacus rubecula, the adult of which has a red throat and breast. 2 US a red-breasted thrush, Turdus migratorius. 3 a bird similar in appearance etc. to either of these. Phrases and idioms: Robin Hood (with ref. to the legend of the medieval forest outlaw) a person who acts illegally or unfavourably towards the rich for the benefit of the poor. Etymology: ME f. OF, familiar var. of the name Robert

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Robin Rob"in, n. [Properly a pet name for Robert, originally meaning, famebright; F., fron OHG. Roudperht; ruod (in comp.; akin to AS. hr?? glory, fame, Goth. hr?peigs victorius) + beraht bright. See Bright, Hob a clown.] (Zo["o]l.) (a) A small European singing bird (Erythacus rubecula), having a reddish breast; -- called also robin redbreast, robinet, and ruddock. (b) An American singing bird (Merula migratoria), having the breast chestnut, or dull red. The upper parts are olive-gray, the head and tail blackish. Called also robin redbreast, and migratory thrush. (c) Any one of several species of Australian warblers of the genera Petroica, Melanadrays, and allied genera; as, the scarlet-breasted robin (Petroica mullticolor). (d) Any one of several Asiatic birds; as, the Indian robins. See Indian robin, below. Beach robin (Zo["o]l.), the robin snipe, or knot. See Knot. Blue-throated robin. (Zo["o]l.) See Bluethroat. Canada robin (Zo["o]l.), the cedar bird. Golden robin (Zo["o]l.), the Baltimore oriole. Ground robin (Zo["o]l.), the chewink. Indian robin (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of Asiatic saxoline birds of the genera Thamnobia and Pratincola. They are mostly black, usually with some white on the wings. Magrie robin (Zo["o]l.), an Asiatic singing bird (Corsycus saularis), having the back, head, neck, and breast black glossed with blue, the wings black, and the belly white. Ragged robin. (Bot.) See under Ragged. Robin accentor (Zo["o]l.), a small Asiatic singing bird (Accentor rubeculoides), somewhat resembling the European robin. Robin redbreast. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The European robin. (b) The American robin. (c) The American bluebird. Robin snipe. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The red-breasted snipe, or dowitcher. (b) The red-breasted sandpiper, or knot. Robin's plantain. (Bot.) See under Plantain. Sea robin. (Zo["o]l.) (a) Any one of several species of American gurnards of the genus Prionotus. They are excellent food fishes. Called also wingfish. The name is also applied to a European gurnard. (b) The red-breasted merganser, or sheldrake. [Local, U.S.] Water robin (Zo["o]l.), a redstart (Ruticulla fuliginosa), native of India.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(robins) 1. A robin is a small brown bird found in Europe. The male has an orangey-red neck and breast. N-COUNT 2. A robin is a brown bird found in North America. The male has a reddish-brown breast. North American robins are larger than European ones, and are a completely different species of bird. N-COUNT 3. see also round-robin

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. [Eng.] Ruddock, robinet, robin-redbreast (Erythaca rubecula or Motacilla rubecula). 2. [U. S.] Robin-redbreast, migratory thrush (Turdus migratorius).