sturnus vulgaris

Noun
Synonyms: common starlingSturnus vulgaris

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. gregarious bird having plumage with dark metallic gloss; builds nests around dwellings and other structures; naturalized worldwideSynonyms: common starlingSturnus vulgaris
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Starling \Star"ling\ (-l[i^]ng), n. [OE. sterlyng, a dim. of OE. stare, AS. staer; akin to AS. stearn, G. star, staar, OHG. stara, Icel. starri, stari, Sw. stare, Dan. staer, L. sturnus. Cf. Stare a starling.]

1.(Zool.) Any passerine bird belonging to Sturnus and allied genera. The European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is dark brown or greenish black, with a metallic gloss, and spotted with yellowish white. It is a sociable bird, and builds about houses, old towers, etc. Called also stare, and starred. The pied starling of India is Sternopastor contra. [1913 Webster]

2.(Zool.) A California fish; the rock trout. [1913 Webster]

3.A structure of piles driven round the piers of a bridge for protection and support; -- called also sterling. [1913 Webster]

Rose-colored starling. (Zool.) See Pastor. [1913 Webster]

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