starling Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun gregarious birds native to the Old World

WordNet

Star"ling noun
Etymology
OE. sterlyng, a dim. of OE. stare, AS. stær; akin to AS. stearn, G. star, staar, OHG. stara, Icel. starri, stari, Sw. stare, Dan. stær, L. sturnus. Cf. Stare a starling.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) 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.
  2. (Zoöl.) A California fish; the rock trout.
  3. A structure of piles driven round the piers of a bridge for protection and support; -- called also sterling.

Webster 1913