Dictionary.com

oscine

[ os-in, -ahyn ]
/ ˈɒs ɪn, -aɪn /
Save This Word!

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.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

Origin of oscine

1880–85, Americanism;<New Latin Oscines name of the suborder, equivalent to Latin oscin- (stem of oscen) songbird, originally 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

OTHER WORDS FROM oscine

non·os·cine, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
FEEDBACK