oscine

[ os-in, -ahyn ]

adjective

1. of, belonging to, or pertaining to the suborder Oscines, of the order Passeriformes, comprising the songbirds that have highly developed vocal organs.

noun

1. an oscine bird.

oscine

/ ˈɒsɪn; ˈɒsaɪn /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Oscines, a suborder of passerine birds that includes most of the songbirds

Other Words From

• non·oscine adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of oscine¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of oscine¹

C17: via New Latin from Latin oscen singing bird