wren

[ren]

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noun

any of numerous small, active songbirds of the family Troglodytidae, especially Troglodytes troglodytes, of the Northern Hemisphere, having dark-brown plumage barred with black and a short, upright tail.Compare house wren, marsh wren, rock wren, winter wren.

any of various similar, unrelated birds, especially any of several Old World warblers.

Origin of wren

before 900; Middle English wrenn(e), Old English wrenna, obscurely akin to Old High German wrendilo, Old Norse rindill

Wren

[ren]

noun (sometimes lowercase) Chiefly British Informal.

a member of the Wrens.

Origin of Wren

First recorded in 1915–20

Wren

[ren]

noun

Sir Christopher,1632–1723, English architect.

Percival Christopher,1885–1941, English novelist.

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

Related Words for wren

lark, canary, pipit, serin, oscine, vireo

Examples from the Web for wren

Contemporary Examples of wren

As an example, on the street yesterday I found a Winter Wren.
How I Write: Jared Diamond
Noah Charney
November 20, 2013
Their son, Wren, was born on March 9, 2010, shortly after noon.
Home Birth: Increasingly Popular, But Dangerous
Michelle Goldberg
June 25, 2012
With every breath, Wren made a cooing noise, but Jones looked online and saw that lots of newborns make funny sounds.
Home Birth: Increasingly Popular, But Dangerous
Michelle Goldberg
June 25, 2012

Historical Examples of wren

The wren, after satisfying its animosity, returned to the beam.
The History of Louisiana
Le Page Du Pratz
"I like to think of the children at Wren's End," Fay said dreamily.
Jan and Her Job
L. Allen Harker
If they express a wish to see the children I'll ask them to Wren's End.
Jan and Her Job
L. Allen Harker
It was their first day at Wren's End, and the weather was kind.
Jan and Her Job
L. Allen Harker
Vaguely she stared round the room, the most charming room in Wren's End.
Jan and Her Job
L. Allen Harker

British Dictionary definitions for wren

wren

noun

any small brown passerine songbird of the chiefly American family Troglodytidae, esp Troglodytes troglodytes (wren in Britain, winter wren in the US and Canada). They have a slender bill and feed on insects

any of various similar birds of the families Muscicapidae (Australian warblers), Xenicidae (New Zealand wrens), etc

Word Origin for wren

Old English wrenna, werna; related to Old High German wrendo, rentilo, Old Norse rindill

Wren

noun

history informal (in Britain and certain other nations) a member of the former Women's Royal Naval Service

Word Origin for Wren

C20: from the abbreviation WRNS

Wren

noun

Sir Christopher. 1632–1723, English architect. He designed St Paul's Cathedral and over 50 other London churches after the Great Fire as well as many secular buildings

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 wren

Old English wrenna, metathesis variation of earlier werna, a West Germanic word of uncertain origin. Cf. Icelandic rindill, Old High German wrendo, wrendilo "wren." The bird's name in other languages usually denotes "royalty" (cf. Latin regulus), in reference to its golden crest.