ETYM Old Eng. sparwe, AS. spearwa; akin to Old High Germ. sparo, German sperling, Icel. spörr, Dan. spurv, spurre, Swed. sparf, Goth. sparwa; -- originally, probably, the quiverer or flutterer, and akin to Eng. spurn. Related to Spurn, Spavin.
Any of several small dull-colored singing birds feeding on seeds or insects; SYN. true sparrow.
Any of a family (Passeridae) of small Old World birds of the order Passeriformes with short, thick bills, including the now worldwide house or English sparrow Passer domesticus.
Many numbers of the New World family Emberizidae, which includes warblers, orioles, and buntings are also called sparrows; for example, the North American song sparrow Melospize melodia.