Sparkler
(Spar"kler), n. (Zoöl.) A tiger beetle.
Sparklet
(Spark"let) n. A small spark. [Obs.]
Sparkliness
(Spark"li*ness) n. Vivacity. [Obs.] Aubrey.
Sparkling
(Spar"kling) a. Emitting sparks; glittering; flashing; brilliant; lively; as, sparkling wine; sparkling
eyes. — Spar"kling*ly, adv. — Spar"kling*ness, n.
Syn. — Brilliant; shining. See Shining.
Sparling
(Spar"ling) n. [Akin to G. spierling, spiering, D. spiering: cf. F. éperlan.] (Zoöl.) (a) The European
smelt (b) A young salmon. (c) A tern. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
Sparlyre
(Spar"lyre`) n. [AS. spear- lira.] The calf of the leg. [Obs.] Wyclif (Deut. xxviii. 35).
Sparoid
(Spa"roid) a. [L. sparus the gilthead + -oid: cf. F. sparoïde.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the
Sparidæ, a family of spinous-finned fishes which includes the scup, sheepshead, and sea bream. — n.
One of the Sparidæ.
Sparpiece
(Spar"piece`) n. (Arch.) The collar beam of a roof; the spanpiece. Gwilt.
Sparpoil
(Spar"poil) v. t. [See Sparble.] To scatter; to spread; to disperse. [Obs.]
Sparrow
(Spar"row) n. [OE. sparwe, AS. spearwa; akin to OHG. sparo, G. sperling, Icel. spörr, Dan.
spurv, spurre, Sw. sparf, Goth. sparwa; — originally, probably, the quiverer or flutterer, and akin to E.
spurn. See Spurn, and cf. Spavin.]
1. (Zoöl.) One of many species of small singing birds of the family Fringilligæ, having conical bills, and
feeding chiefly on seeds. Many sparrows are called also finches, and buntings. The common sparrow,
or house sparrow, of Europe (Passer domesticus) is noted for its familiarity, its voracity, its attachment to
its young, and its fecundity. See House sparrow, under House.
The following American species are well known; the chipping sparrow, or chippy, the sage sparrow, the
savanna sparrow, the song sparrow, the tree sparrow, and the white-throated sparrow (see Peabody
bird). See these terms under Sage, Savanna, etc.
2. (Zoöl.) Any one of several small singing birds somewhat resembling the true sparrows in form or
habits, as the European hedge sparrow. See under Hedge.
He that doth the ravens feed,
Yea, providently caters for the sparrow,
Be comfort to my age!
Shak. Field sparrow, Fox sparrow, etc. See under Field, Fox, etc. — Sparrow bill, a small nail; a castiron
shoe nail; a sparable. — Sparrow hawk. (Zoöl.) (a) A small European hawk (Accipiter nisus) or any of
the allied species. (b) A small American falcon (Falco sparverius). (c) The Australian collared sparrow
hawk The name is applied to other small hawks, as the European kestrel and the New Zealand quail
hawk. — Sparrow owl (Zoöl.), a small owl (Glaucidium passerinum) found both in the Old World and
the New. The name is also applied to other species of small owls. — Sparrow spear (Zoöl.), the female
of the reed bunting. [Prov. Eng.]
Sparrowgrass
(Spar"row*grass`) n. [Corrupted from asparagus.] Asparagus. [Colloq.] See the Note
under Asparagus.
Sparrowwort
(Spar"row*wort`) n. (Bot.) An evergreen shrub of the genus Erica (E. passerina).
