oscine
[os-in, -ahyn]
- of, belonging to, or pertaining to the suborder Oscines, of the order Passeriformes, comprising the songbirds that have highly developed vocal organs.
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- an oscine bird.
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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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
oscine
- of, relating to, or belonging to the Oscines, a suborder of passerine birds that includes most of the songbirds
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Word Origin
C17: via New Latin from Latin oscen singing bird
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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