chippy

chippy
Sparrow Spar"row, n. [OE. sparwe, AS. spearwa; akin to OHG. sparo, G. sperling, Icel. sp["o]rr, Dan. spurv, spurre, Sw. sparf, Goth. sparwa; -- originally, probably, the quiverer or flutterer, and akin to E. spurn. See {Spurn}, and cf. {Spavin}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) One of many species of small singing birds of the family {Fringillig[ae]}, 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}. [1913 Webster]

Note: 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. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several small singing birds somewhat resembling the true sparrows in form or habits, as the European hedge sparrow. See under {Hedge}. [1913 Webster]

He that doth the ravens feed, Yea, providently caters for the sparrow, Be comfort to my age! --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{Field sparrow}, {Fox sparrow}, etc. See under {Field}, {Fox}, etc.

{Sparrow bill}, a small nail; a castiron shoe nail; a sparable.

{Sparrow hawk}. (Zo["o]l.) (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 ({Accipiter torquatus}).

Note: The name is applied to other small hawks, as the European kestrel and the New Zealand quail hawk.

{Sparrow owl} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), the female of the reed bunting. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Chippy — may refer to: A shop serving the traditional British dish Fish and chips A slang term for a carpenter Chippy (album), an album of songs from a play of the same name Mrs. Chippy, a cat who accompanied Sir Ernest Shackleton s Imperial Trans… …   Wikipedia

  • Chippy — Chip py, n. (Zo[ o]l.) A small American sparrow ({Spizella socialis}), very common near dwelling; also called {chipping bird} and {chipping sparrow}, from its simple note. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Chippy — Chip py, a. Abounding in, or resembling, chips; dry and tasteless. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chippy — promiscuous young woman; prostitute, 1880, U.S. slang, earlier (1864) short for chipping bird sparrow, perhaps ultimately a variant of cheep …   Etymology dictionary

  • chippy — informal ► NOUN (also chippie) (pl. chippies) 1) Brit. a fish and chip shop. 2) Brit. a carpenter. 3) N. Amer. a prostitute. ► ADJECTIVE ▪ touchy and irritable …   English terms dictionary

  • chippy — ☆ chippy or chippie [chip′ē ] n. pl. chippies 1. CHIPPING SPARROW 2. a chipmunk 3. Slang a) a promiscuous young woman b) a prostitute …   English World dictionary

  • chippy — adj aggressive and hypersensitive, irritat ingly resentful. The word is based on either the 19th century chip in , meaning to interfere, or the later notion of having a chip on one s shoulder . ► He s chippy. I find that small people are often… …   Contemporary slang

  • chippy — adjective (chippier; est) Etymology: chip on one s shoulder Date: 1898 aggressively belligerent < a chippy hockey player >; also marked by much fighting < a chippy game > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • chippy — chippy1 /chip ee/, n., pl. chippies. 1. Also, chippie. Slang. a. a promiscuous woman. b. a prostitute. 2. See chipping sparrow. [1860 65, Amer.; CHIPP(ING SPARROW) …   Universalium

  • chippy — [[t]tʃɪ̱pi[/t]] chippies also chippie N COUNT A chippy is the same as a chip shop. [BRIT, INFORMAL] For years he s visited the chippy at least once a week …   English dictionary

  • chippy —    1. American    a prostitute    Usually at the lower end of the profession, from chip, a bit or piece1:     He pays some chippie fifty to gobble his pork. (Diehl, 1978)    A chippie joint is a brothel.    2. American    to ingest illegal… …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

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