from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Sage \Sage\, n. [OE. sauge, F. sauge, L. salvia, from salvus
saved, in allusion to its reputed healing virtues. See
{Safe}.] (Bot.)
(a) A suffruticose labiate plant ({Salvia officinalis}) with
grayish green foliage, much used in flavoring meats, etc.
The name is often extended to the whole genus, of which
many species are cultivated for ornament, as the scarlet
sage, and Mexican red and blue sage.
(b) The sagebrush.
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{Meadow sage} (Bot.), a blue-flowered species of {Salvia}
({Salvia pratensis}) growing in meadows in Europe.
{Sage cheese}, cheese flavored with sage, and colored green
by the juice of leaves of spinach and other plants which
are added to the milk.
{Sage cock} (Zool.), the male of the sage grouse; in a more
general sense, the specific name of the sage grouse.
{Sage green}, of a dull grayish green color, like the leaves
of garden sage.
{Sage grouse} (Zool.), a very large American grouse
({Centrocercus urophasianus}), native of the dry sagebrush
plains of Western North America. Called also {cock of the
plains}. The male is called {sage cock}, and the female
{sage hen}.
{Sage hare}, or {Sage rabbit} (Zool.), a species of hare
({Lepus Nuttalli} syn. {Lepus artemisia}) which inhabits
the arid regions of Western North America and lives among
sagebrush. By recent writers it is considered to be merely
a variety of the common cottontail, or wood rabbit.
{Sage hen} (Zool.), the female of the sage grouse.
{Sage sparrow} (Zool.), a small sparrow ({Amphispiza Belli},
var. Nevadensis) which inhabits the dry plains of the
Rocky Mountain region, living among sagebrush.
{Sage thrasher} (Zool.), a singing bird ({Oroscoptes
montanus}) which inhabits the sagebrush plains of Western
North America.
{Sage willow} (Bot.), a species of willow ({Salix tristis})
forming a low bush with nearly sessile grayish green
leaves.
[1913 Webster]
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}.
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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.
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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}.
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He that doth the ravens feed,
Yea, providently caters for the sparrow,
Be comfort to my age! --Shak.
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{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.]
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