Wrens
[ renz ]
/ rɛnz /
|
noun (used with a singular or plural verb) Chiefly British Informal.
the Women's Royal Naval Service: established in 1917 as an auxiliary to the Royal Navy.
Origin of Wrens
pronounced form of the initial letters, with placement of vowel suggested by wren
Definition for wrens (2 of 4)
wren
[ ren ]
/ rɛn /
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
Definition for wrens (3 of 4)
Wren
1[ ren ]
/ rɛn /
noun (sometimes lowercase) Chiefly British Informal.
a member of the Wrens.
Origin of Wren
1First recorded in 1915–20
Definition for wrens (4 of 4)
Wren
2[ ren ]
/ rɛn /
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
Examples from the Web for wrens
British Dictionary definitions for wrens (1 of 3)
wren
/ (rɛn) /
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
British Dictionary definitions for wrens (2 of 3)
Wren
1/ (rɛn) /
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
British Dictionary definitions for wrens (3 of 3)
Wren
2/ (rɛn) /
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 wrens
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper