starling

¹

[ stahr-ling ]

noun

1. a chunky, medium-sized European passerine bird, Sturnus vulgaris, of iridescent black plumage with seasonal speckles, that nests in colonies: introduced into North America.
2. any of various similar Old World birds of the family Sturnidae.

starling

²

[ stahr-ling ]

noun

1. a pointed cluster of pilings for protecting a bridge pier from drifting ice, debris, etc.

Starling

¹

/ ˈstɑːlɪŋ /

noun

1. StarlingErnest Henry18661927MBritishSCIENCE: physiologist Ernest Henry . 1866–1927, British physiologist, who contributed greatly to the understanding of many bodily functions and with William Bayliss (1860–1924) discovered the hormone secretin (1902)

starling

²

/ ˈstɑːlɪŋ /

noun

1. any gregarious passerine songbird of the Old World family Sturnidae , esp Sturnus vulgaris , which has a blackish plumage and a short tail

starling

³

/ ˈstɑːlɪŋ /

noun

1. an arrangement of piles that surround a pier of a bridge to protect it from debris, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of starling¹

before 1050; Middle English; Old English stærling, equivalent to stær starling (cognate with Old High German stara, Old Norse stari ) + -ling -ling ¹; akin to Old English stearn kind of bird, Latin sturnus starling

Origin of starling²

First recorded in 1675–85; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of starling¹

Old English stærlinc , from stær starling (related to Icelandic stari ) + -line -ling ¹

Origin of starling²

C17: probably changed from staddling , from staddle

Example Sentences

The flock swirls like a tornado as the attacks continue, and the starlings desperately seek a suitable place to land.

From Nautilus

Each winter, starlings gather in large flocks of up to 100,000 individuals across the United Kingdom.

From Nautilus

A red-winged starling in South Africa has been seen pecking a small antelope called a klipspringer.

From Science News For Students

Researchers have seen an American crow harvest hair from a cow and a red-winged starling in Africa peck a small antelope called a klipspringer.

From Science News

One of the scientists’ tests was whether a wide pipe — called a baffle — around a pole would keep the predators from reaching a starling nest box at the top.

From Science News For Students

I read that Michelle Pfeiffer turned down Clarice Starling in Silence, is that true?

From The Daily Beast

Now people from all corners of the sports world are calling for Starling to lose his team ownership.

From The Daily Beast

He wasn't returning from FBI target practice with Clarice Starling.

From The Daily Beast

Jack caught a starling which was in the act of wriggling out of his coat pocket, and gave it a final twist.

From Project Gutenberg

The starling, which has been taught to murmur Evelyn's name, to-day shrieked out, 'Eva!

From Project Gutenberg

Your envy of my corner is wasted upon one who heard you singing a moment since, like the melancholy starling, 'I can't get out!

From Project Gutenberg

The Wasp Fly—dubbed with brown bear or cow's hair, ribbed with yellow silk, and the wings of the inside of starling's wing.

From Project Gutenberg

The September Dun—dubbed with the down of a mouse, warped with ash coloured silk, wings feather of a starling.

From Project Gutenberg