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Starling - 8 dictionary results
star⋅ling
1
[stahr-ling] 
–noun
| 1. | a chunky, medium-sized European passerine bird, Sturnus vulgaris, of iridescent black plumage with seasonal speckles, that nests in colonies: introduced into North America. |
| 2. | any of various similar Old World birds of the family Sturnidae. |
Origin:
bef. 1050; ME; OE stærling, equiv. to stær starling (c. OHG stara, ON stari) + -ling -ling 1 ; akin to OE stearn kind of bird, L sturnus starling
bef. 1050; ME; OE stærling, equiv. to stær starling (c. OHG stara, ON stari) + -ling -ling 1 ; akin to OE stearn kind of bird, L sturnus starling
Language Translation for : Starling
| Italian: | storno, | German: | der Star, | Japanese: | むくどり |
star⋅ling
2 [stahr-ling] –noun
| a pointed cluster of pilings for protecting a bridge pier from drifting ice, debris, etc. |
Origin:
1675–85; orig. uncert.
1675–85; orig. uncert.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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| star·ling 1
(stär'lĭng) Pronunciation Key
n. Any of various Old World passerine birds of the family Sturnidae, characteristically having a short tail, pointed wings, and dark, often iridescent plumage, especially Sturnus vulgaris, widely naturalized in North America. [Middle English, from Old English stærlinc : stær, starling + -linc, noun suff.; see -ling1.] |
| star·ling 2
(stär'lĭng) Pronunciation Key
n. A protective structure of pilings surrounding a pier of a bridge. [Perhaps alteration of Middle English stadelinge, from stathel, foundation, from Old English stathol; see stā- in Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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starling
O.E. stærlinc, with dim. suffix -linc, from stær "starling," from P.Gmc. *staraz (cf. O.E. stearn, O.N. stari, Norw. stare, O.H.G. stara, Ger. star "starling"), from PIE *storo- (cf. L. sturnus "starling," O.Pruss. starnite "gull").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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| starling | |
noun | |
| gregarious birds native to the Old World |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Starling Star·ling (stär'lĭng), Sir Ernest. 1866-1927.
British physiologist. With Sir William Bayliss he discovered (1902) the hormone secretin.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Starling
Star"ling\, n. [OE. sterlyng, a dim. of OE. stare, AS. st[ae]r; akin to AS. stearn, G. star, staar, OHG. stara, Icel. starri, stari, Sw. stare, Dan. st[ae]r, L. sturnus. Cf. Stare a starling.]1. (Zo["o]l.) 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. (Zo["o]l.) 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. (Zo["o]l.) See Pastor.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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