redbreast

[ red-brest ]

noun

the European robin, Erithacus rubecula.
the North American robin, Turdus migratorius.

any of various other birds, as a dowitcher or knot.
a freshwater sunfish, Lepomis auritus, of the eastern U.S.

Origin of redbreast

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at red¹, breast

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use redbreast in a sentence

He was engaged in distributing crumbs to a congregation of sparrows and thrushes and redbreasts.
Punch, Or The London Charivari, Vol. 99., December 27, 1890 | Various
An' two redbreasts had carried him to the round house, sir, afore they discovered his title.
Richard Carvel, Complete | Winston Churchill
But he took more pleasure in catching Robin-redbreasts than in anything else, and for this purpose he used bird-lime.
Tales from the Lands of Nuts and Grapes | Charles Sellers and Others
In our back yard there were three elm trees and in the one nearest the house a pair of robin-redbreasts had their nest.
The Story of My Boyhood and Youth | John Muir
If a half-white robin hatches his eggs his young ones are likely to be jolly little robin redbreasts, nothing more.
The Shadow Passes | Roy J. Snell

British Dictionary definitions for redbreast

redbreast

/ (ˈrɛdˌbrɛst) /

noun

any of various birds having a red breast, esp the Old World robin: See robin (def. 1)

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

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