sparrow hawk

noun

1. a small, short-winged European hawk, Accipiter nisus, that preys on smaller birds.
2. American kestrel.

sparrow hawk

noun

1. a very small North American falcon, Falco sparverius, that is closely related to the kestrels

Word History and Origins

Origin of sparrow hawk¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

It was usually represented as a bird, especially as a human-headed sparrow-hawk.

From Project Gutenberg

And the Earl told Geraint that the Sparrow-hawk gave a prize at the tournament.

From Project Gutenberg

The Sparrow-Hawk lays from four to six eggs of a bluish-white, spotted more numerously at the larger end with red-brown blotches.

From Project Gutenberg

The sun had climbed quite high before the sparrow-hawk came swinging round the wood.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a rather long, richly-gilded vessel, and bore a silver sparrow-hawk as figure-head.

From Project Gutenberg