robin
robin Lexical Profile
robin Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British A small, insectivorous Old World bird (Erithacus rubecula) native to Europe, distinguished by its bright orange-red breast and face, often associated with winter and Christmas.
"A little robin landed on the handle of the garden spade, watching closely for any unearthed worms."
North American A large, migratory North American thrush (Turdus migratorius) characterized by a dark back and a brick-red breast, widely considered a harbinger of spring.
"We knew spring was finally arriving when we spotted a robin pulling a long earthworm from the thawing lawn."
Word Nuance & Usage
The term 'robin' refers to two entirely different species of birds depending on geography; the American robin is a large thrush, while the European robin is a small Old World flycatcher. They share the name primarily due to their characteristic red breasts.
• Rhymes for robin
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old French 'Robin', a diminutive of the given name 'Robert'. It was playfully applied to the European redbreast in the 15th century (often 'robin redbreast') and later adapted by English settlers in North America to describe a superficially similar but unrelated local thrush.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.