redstart

[ red-stahrt ]

/ ˈrɛdˌstɑrt /

noun

any of several small, Old World thrushes, usually with reddish-brown tails, especially Phoenicurus phoenicurus (European redstart).

any of several fly-catching, New World warblers, especially Setophaga ruticilla (American redstart), having black and white plumage with reddish-orange patches.

Nearby words

Origin of redstart

1560–70; red¹ + obsolete start tail (Middle English start, stert tail, handle, Old English steort tail; akin to Old High German sterz, Old Norse stertr)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for redstart

In the autumn of 1906, September 22nd was the date on which I first noticed a redstart in Lahore.
Glimpses of Indian Birds|Douglas Dewar
The song of the redstart is superior, though somewhat like that of the whitethroat; some birds have a few more notes than others.
The Natural History of Selborne, Vol. 1|Gilbert White
The redstart begins to sing, its note is short and imperfect, but is continued till about the middle of June.
The Natural History of Selborne, Vol. 1|Gilbert White
In fact, I never saw a redstart who seemed to know that we humans ought to be dreaded.
Wild Life Near Home|Dallas Lore Sharp

He has a very fine warble, suggesting that of the redstart, but not especially musical.
Wake-Robin|John Burroughs

British Dictionary definitions for redstart

redstart

/ (ˈrɛdˌstɑːt) /

noun

any European songbird of the genus Phoenicurus, esp P. phoenicurus, in which the male has a black throat, orange-brown tail and breast, and grey back: family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc)

any North American warbler of the genus Setophaga, esp S. ruticilla

Word Origin for redstart

Old English rēad red 1 + steort tail; compare German Rotsterz

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

Word Origin and History for redstart

redstart

type of bird, 1560s, from red (adj.1) + start "tail," from Old English steort. Cf. German Rotsterz.