/red"stahrt'/ , n.
1. any of several small, Old World thrushes, usually with reddish-brown tails, esp. Phoenicurus phoenicurus (European redstart) .
2. any of several fly-catching, New World warblers, esp. Setophaga ruticilla (American redstart) , having black and white plumage with reddish-orange patches.
[ 1560-70; RED 1 + obs. start tail (ME start, stert tail, handle, OE steort tail; akin to OHG sterz, ON stertr ) ]