passerine Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun perching birds mostly small and living near the ground with feet having 4 toes arranged to allow for gripping the perch; most are songbirds; hatchlings are helpless
    passeriform bird.
  2. adjective relating to or characteristic of the passeriform birds

WordNet

Pas"ser*ine adjective
Etymology
L. passerinus, fr. passer a sparrow.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Passeres.
    The columbine, gallinaceous, and passerine tribes people the fruit trees. Sydney Smith.
Pas"ser*ine noun
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) One of the Passeres.

Webster 1913