from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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. (Zool.) One of many species of small singing birds of the
family {Fringilligae}, 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. (Zool.) 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}. (Zool.)
(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} (Zool.), 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} (Zool.), the female of the reed bunting.
[Prov. Eng.]
[1913 Webster]
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
33 Moby Thesaurus words for "chippy":
Jezebel, bad woman, baggage, bitch, broad, clitoromaniac, cocotte,
drab, easy lay, easy woman, floozy, frail sister, grisette,
harridan, hussy, hysteromaniac, jade, loose woman, nymph, nymphet,
nympho, nymphomaniac, pickup, quean, slut, strumpet, tart, trollop,
trull, uteromaniac, wanton, wench, whore