oscine
[ os-in, -ahyn ]
/ ˈɒs ɪn, -aɪn /
adjective
of, belonging to, or pertaining to the suborder Oscines, of the order Passeriformes, comprising the songbirds that have highly developed vocal organs.
noun
an oscine bird.
Nearby words
oscillograph, oscillometer, oscillometry, oscillopsia, oscilloscope, oscine, oscitancy, oscitant, osco-umbrian, osculant, oscular
Origin of oscine
1880–85, Americanism; < New Latin Oscines name of the suborder, equivalent to Latin oscin- (stem of oscen) songbird, orig. bird that gives omens by its cry (o(b)s-, variant of ob- ob- + -cin-, stem of -cen, noun derivative of canere to sing) + -es nominative plural noun suffix
Related forms
non·os·cine, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for oscine
oscine
/ (ˈɒsaɪn, ˈɒsɪn) /
adjective
of, relating to, or belonging to the Oscines, a suborder of passerine birds that includes most of the songbirds
Word Origin for oscine
C17: via New Latin from Latin oscen singing bird
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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