/pas"euhr in, -euh ruyn', -euh reen'/ , adj.
1. of, belonging, or pertaining to the order Passeriformes, comprising more than half of all birds and typically having the feet adapted for perching.
2. oscine (def. 1).
n.
3. any bird of the order Passeriformes.
[ 1770-80; passerinus of a sparrow, equiv. to passer sparrow + -inus -INE 1 ]