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Webster 1913 Edition


Starling

Star′ling

(-lĭng)
,
Noun.
[OE.
sterlyng
, a dim. of OE.
stare
, AS.
staer
; akin to AS.
stearn
, G.
star
,
staar
, OHG.
stara
, Icel.
starri
,
stari
, Sw.
stare
, Dan.
staer
, L.
sturnus
. Cf.
Stare
a starling.]
1.
(Zool.)
Any passerine bird belonging to
Sturnus
and allied genera. The European starling (
Sturnus vulgaris
) is dark brown or greenish black, with a metallic gloss, and spotted with yellowish white. It is a sociable bird, and builds about houses, old towers, etc. Called also
stare
, and
starred
. The pied starling of India is
Sternopastor contra
.
2.
(Zool.)
A California fish; the rock trout.
3.
A structure of piles driven round the piers of a bridge for protection and support; – called also
sterling
.
Rose-colored starling
.
(Zool.)
See
Pastor
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Starling

STARLING

,
Noun.
1.
A bird, the stare, of the genus Sturnus.
2.
A defense to the piers of bridges.

Definition 2024


Starling

Starling

See also: starling

English

Proper noun

Starling

  1. An English surname from a nickname for a gregarious person.
    • 1859, Charles Dickens, The Haunted House
      When we had all laughed and applauded till we were faint, Starling, not to be outdone, favoured us with a more modern saltatory entertainment in the Lancashire clog manner — to the best of my belief, the longest dance ever performed []
  2. A male given name transferred from the surname.

See also

starling

starling

See also: Starling

English

A Common Starling.

Noun

starling (plural starlings)

  1. A family, Sturnidae, of passerine birds.
    1. The common starling, Sturnus vulgaris, which has dark, iridescent plumage.
  2. A structure of pilings that protects the piers of a bridge.
  3. A California fish, the rock trout, Hexagrammos, especially, Hexagrammos decagrammus, the boregat or bodieron.

Derived terms

Translations