house sparrow

noun

a small, hardy, buffy-brown and gray bird, Passer domesticus, of Europe, introduced into America, Australia, etc.

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Also called English sparrow.

Origin of house sparrow

First recorded in 1665–75

Words nearby house sparrow

house plant, house rule, house seat, house slipper, house snake, house sparrow, house spider, house staff, house style, house surgeon, house trailer

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for house sparrow

The house-sparrow and the bullfinch are the chief, but not the only, enemies.
The Book of Pears and Plums|Edward Bartrum
The remainder of the plumage is very like that of the house-sparrow.
Birds of the Indian Hills|Douglas Dewar
Innumerable instances in all Orders could be given; it will suffice to call to mind the common pheasant, duck, and house-sparrow.
The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex|Charles Darwin
Our own house-sparrow equally well adapts himself to circumstances.
Contributions to the Theory of Natural Selection|Alfred Russel Wallace

Compare the size and form of the song-sparrow with that of the house-sparrow (English).
Ontario Teachers' Manuals: Nature Study|Ontario Ministry of Education

British Dictionary definitions for house sparrow

house sparrow

noun

a small Eurasian weaverbird, Passer domesticus, now established in North America and Australia. It has a brown streaked plumage with grey underpartsAlso called (US): English sparrow

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012