starling

¹

[stahr-ling]

noun

1. a chunky, medium-sized European passerine bird, Sturnus vulgaris, of iridescent black plumage with seasonal speckles, that nests in colonies: introduced into North America.

2. any of various similar Old World birds of the family Sturnidae.

starling

²

[stahr-ling]

noun

1. a pointed cluster of pilings for protecting a bridge pier from drifting ice, debris, etc.

Starling

¹

/ ˈstɑːlɪŋ /

noun

1. Ernest Henry . 1866–1927, British physiologist, who contributed greatly to the understanding of many bodily functions and with William Bayliss (1860–1924) discovered the hormone secretin (1902)

starling

²

/ ˈstɑːlɪŋ /

noun

1. any gregarious passerine songbird of the Old World family Sturnidae , esp Sturnus vulgaris , which has a blackish plumage and a short tail

starling

³

/ ˈstɑːlɪŋ /

noun

1. an arrangement of piles that surround a pier of a bridge to protect it from debris, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of starling¹

before 1050; Middle English; Old English stærling, equivalent to stær starling (cognate with Old High German stara, Old Norse stari ) + -ling -ling ¹; akin to Old English stearn kind of bird, Latin sturnus starling

Origin of starling²

First recorded in 1675–85; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of starling¹

Old English stærlinc , from stær starling (related to Icelandic stari ) + -line _-ling ¹

Origin of starling²

C17: probably changed from staddling , from _staddle

Example Sentences

"Like starlings murmuring in the sky," Miller said.

Read more on Science Daily

One day in December, Nat notices gulls, crows, starlings and wrens massing menacingly overhead.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Fish and Wildlife also allows two other invasive non-game birds — the English sparrow and the European starling — to be killed by licensed hunters, according to the release.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

One of the birds was a mourning dove and the other a European starling.

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Fewer starlings are visiting UK gardens, according to the conservation charity, the RSPB.

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