whitethroat

American  

[hwahyt-throht, wahyt-] / ˈʰwaɪtˌθroʊt, ˈwaɪt- /

noun

1. any of several small songbirds having a throat that is white, especially an Old World warbler, Sylvia communis.

2. white-throated sparrow.

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whitethroat British  

/ ˈwaɪtˌθrəʊt /

noun

1. either of two Old World warblers, Sylvia communis or S. curruca ( lesser whitethroat ), having a greyish-brown plumage with a white throat and underparts

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Etymology

Origin of whitethroat

First recorded in 1670–80; white + throat

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

whitethroat

It is a whitethroat; his nest is deep in the parsley and nettles. 

From Pageant of Summer by Jefferies, Richard

Peggy, peg′i, n. one of several small warblers, the whitethroat, &c.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

You might as well suppose that the whitethroat is aware that nettles will sting the human hand approaching its nest as that eggs are especially adjusted in colour to deceive human eyes.

From Field and Hedgerow Being the Last Essays of Richard Jefferies by Jefferies, Richard

The thicker the undergrowth of nettles and wild parsley, rushes and rough grasses, the more the whitethroat likes the spot.

From The Hills and the Vale by Jefferies, Richard

And after April, when May follows,   And the whitethroat builds, and all the swallows .

From There was a King in Egypt by Lorimer, Norma