[stahr-ling] 
| 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. |
[stahr-ling] | a pointed cluster of pilings for protecting a bridge pier from drifting ice, debris, etc. |
| star·ling 1 (stär'lĭng) 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) 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.] |
Starling Star·ling (stär'lĭng), Sir Ernest. 1866-1927.
British physiologist. With Sir William Bayliss he discovered (1902) the hormone secretin.