ˈspa](ˌ)rō, ]_rə; ]_rəw, ]_rō+V; also ˈspe]\ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English sparwe, sparowe, sparow, from Old English spearwa; akin to Old High German sparo sparrow, Old Norse spörr, Gothic sparwa sparrow, Cornish frau crow, Greek sparasion, a bird resembling a sparrow, psar starling, Old Prussian spurglis sparrow
1. : house sparrow ; broadly : any of various related birds of the genus Passer
2. : any of numerous finches resembling the house sparrow in size and shape and in having plumage streaked with brown or gray — see chipping sparrow , field sparrow , hedge sparrow , sage sparrow , savannah sparrow , song sparrow , tree sparrow
3. : mouse gray
4.
a. : an undersized person
b. : one who is of aggressively active and markedly self-reliant temperament