noun
Etymology: Middle English sparowhauk, from sparwe, sparowe, sparow sparrow + hauk hawk
1. : a small Old World hawk ( Accipiter nisus ) similar in habits, size, and general coloration to the American sharp-shinned hawk
2. : a small No. American falcon ( Falco sparverius ) that is closely related to the European kestrel, is chiefly rufous and slaty blue above and buffy white with dark markings below, and feeds mostly on large insects (as grasshoppers)
3. : any of various hawks or falcons of small size: as
a. : pigeon hawk
b. : bush hawk
4. : a small anvil used by silversmiths
[s]sparrowh.jpg[/s]