What is "ragged robin"

Ragged \Rag"ged\ (r[a^]g"g[e^]d), a. [From Rag, n.]

1. Rent or worn into tatters, or till the texture is broken; as, a ragged coat; a ragged sail.

2. Broken with rough edges; having jags; uneven; rough; jagged; as, ragged rocks.

3. Hence, harsh and disagreeable to the ear; dissonant. [R.] ``A ragged noise of mirth.''
   --Herbert.

4. Wearing tattered clothes; as, a ragged fellow.

5. Rough; shaggy; rugged.

   What shepherd owns those ragged sheep?
   --Dryden.

   Ragged lady (Bot.), the fennel flower ( Nigella Damascena).

   Ragged robin (Bot.), a plant of the genus Lychnis ( Lychnis Flos-cuculi), cultivated for its handsome flowers, which have the petals cut into narrow lobes.

   Ragged sailor (Bot.), prince's feather ( Polygonum orientale).

   Ragged school, a free school for poor children, where they are taught and in part fed; -- a name given at first because they came in their common clothing. [Eng.] [1913 Webster] -- Rag"ged*ly, adv. -- Rag"ged*ness, n.

Robin \Rob"in\, n. [Properly a pet name for Robert, originally meaning, famebright; F., fron OHG. Roudperht; ruod (in comp.; akin to AS. hr?? glory, fame, Goth. hr?peigs victorius) + beraht bright. See Bright, Hob a clown.] (Zo["o]l.)

1. A small European singing bird ( Erythacus rubecula), having a reddish breast; -- called also robin redbreast, robinet, and ruddock.

2. An American singing bird ( Merula migratoria), having the breast chestnut, or dull red. The upper parts are olive-gray, the head and tail blackish. Called also robin redbreast, and migratory thrush.

3. Any one of several species of Australian warblers of the genera Petroica, Melanadrays, and allied genera; as, the scarlet-breasted robin ( Petroica mullticolor).

4. Any one of several Asiatic birds; as, the Indian robins. See Indian robin, below. Beach robin (Zo["o]l.), the robin snipe, or knot. See Knot. Blue-throated robin. (Zo["o]l.) See Bluethroat. Canada robin (Zo["o]l.), the cedar bird. Golden robin (Zo["o]l.), the Baltimore oriole. Ground robin (Zo["o]l.), the chewink. Indian robin (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of Asiatic saxoline birds of the genera Thamnobia and Pratincola. They are mostly black, usually with some white on the wings. Magrie robin (Zo["o]l.), an Asiatic singing bird ( Corsycus saularis), having the back, head, neck, and breast black glossed with blue, the wings black, and the belly white. Ragged robin. (Bot.) See under Ragged. Robin accentor (Zo["o]l.), a small Asiatic singing bird ( Accentor rubeculoides), somewhat resembling the European robin. Robin redbreast. (Zo["o]l.)

   1. The European robin.

   2. The American robin.

   3. The American bluebird. Robin snipe. (Zo["o]l.)

      1. The red-breasted snipe, or dowitcher.

      2. The red-breasted sandpiper, or knot. Robin's plantain. (Bot.) See under Plantain. Sea robin. (Zo["o]l.)

         1. Any one of several species of American gurnards of the genus Prionotus. They are excellent food fishes. Called also wingfish. The name is also applied to a European gurnard.

         2. The red-breasted merganser, or sheldrake. [Local, U.S.]

            Water robin (Zo["o]l.), a redstart ( Ruticulla fuliginosa), native of India.

n. (context UK English) A type of wild campion, (taxlink Lychnis flos-cuculi species noshow=1), in the family Caryophyllaceae, which grows across Europe and has pink flowers.

n. common perennial native to Europe and western Asia having usually pink flowers with ragged petals [syn: cuckoo flower, Lychnis flos-cuculi, Lychins floscuculi]