英语词汇sparrow的起源、历史背景-英语词源词典

词汇	sparrow
词源	sparrow n. small brownish-gray bird (Passer domesticus), Old English spearwa, from Proto-Germanic sparwan (source also of Old Norse spörr, Old High German sparo, German Sperling, Gothic sparwa), from PIE spor-wo-, from root sper- (3), forming names of small birds (source also of Cornish frau "crow;" Old Prussian spurglis "sparrow;" Greek spergoulos "small field bird," psar "starling"). In use, with qualifying words, of many small, sparrow-like birds. Sparrowfarts (1886) was Cheshire slang for "very early morning." Entries linking to sparrow* sparrowhawk n. hawk that preys on small birds, c. 1400, replacing forms from Old English spearhafoc; see sparrow + hawk (n.). spavin n. disease of the hock joint of a horse, early 15c., from Old French espavain (Modern French épavin, cognate with Italian spavenio, Spanish esparavan); in most sources said to be perhaps from Frankish *sparwan "sparrow" (see sparrow), on the supposition that a horse affected with spavin moved with a walk that reminded people of the bird's awkward gait. This seems a stretcher, and Century Dictionary admits it rests on mere resemblance of form. Related: Spavined (adj.). updated on November 05, 2013
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sparrow n.