oscine
[os-in, -ahyn]
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.
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
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
oscine
adjective
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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