Find the word definition

Crossword clues for throstle

The Collaborative International Dictionary
throstle

Song \Song\ (s[o^]ng; 115), n. [AS. song, sang, fr. singan to sing; akin to D. zang, G. sang, Icel. s["o]ngr, Goth. saggws. See Sing.]

  1. That which is sung or uttered with musical modulations of the voice, whether of a human being or of a bird, insect, etc. ``That most ethereal of all sounds, the song of crickets.''
    --Hawthorne.

  2. A lyrical poem adapted to vocal music; a ballad.

  3. More generally, any poetical strain; a poem.

    The bard that first adorned our native tongue Tuned to his British lyre this ancient song.
    --Dryden.

  4. Poetical composition; poetry; verse.

    This subject for heroic song.
    --Milton.

  5. An object of derision; a laughingstock.

    And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.
    --Job xxx. 9.

  6. A trifle; an insignificant sum of money; as, he bought it for a song. ``The soldier's pay is a song.''
    --Silliman.

    Old song, a trifle; nothing of value. ``I do not intend to be thus put off with an old song.''
    --Dr. H. More.

    Song bird (Zo["o]l.), any singing bird; one of the Oscines.

    Song sparrow (Zo["o]l.), a very common North American sparrow ( Melospiza fasciata, or Melospiza melodia) noted for the sweetness of its song in early spring. Its breast is covered with dusky brown streaks which form a blotch in the center.

    Song thrush (Zo["o]l.), a common European thrush ( Turdus musicus), noted for its melodius song; -- called also mavis, throstle, and thrasher.

    Syn: Sonnet; ballad; canticle; carol; canzonet; ditty; hymn; descant; lay; strain; poesy; verse.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
throstle

"thrush," Old English þrostle "thrush," from Proto-Germanic *thrust- (cognates: Old Saxon throsla, Old High German droscala, German Drossel "thrush"), altered from (perhaps a diminutive of) *thurstaz (see thrush (n.1)).

Wiktionary
throstle

n. 1 A song thrush. 2 A machine for spinning wool, cotton, etc., from the rove, consisting of a set of drawing rollers with bobbins and flyers, and differing from the mule in having the twisting apparatus stationary and the processes continuous; -- so called because it makes a singing noise.

WordNet
throstle
  1. n. a spinning machine formerly used to twist and wind fibers of cotton or wool continuously

  2. common Old World thrush noted for its song [syn: song thrush, mavis, Turdus philomelos]

Usage examples of "throstle".

Ouzel and throstle, new-mated and gay, Singing their bridals on every spray - Oh, hear them, deep in the songless City!

And she dropped Throstle into her biggest pocket, offered the palm of her hand to the mice, and, when they had ticklingly climbed onto it, dropped them on top of Throstle.

And Hroc was awake, and Milo and Tash and Froo, and Flinx and Spear, and Sunflower and Throstle and two mice from Foggy Bottom.

Rosie felt Throstle and the mice rearranging themselves as if the pocket had grown suddenly smaller.

And Rosie had done this, Narl had done this, Flinx and Sunflower and Zel and Hroc and Throstle and all of them had done this.

The possible connection between the murder and the poison-pen outbreak was remarked with commendable speed and Sergeant Throstle found himself seconded to a murder squad to which he did not properly belong, under the leadership of Superintendent Gravesend, an officer who delighted in being called dynamic when his activities were noticed by the press.

Honor being satisfied, he withdrew to the saloon, leaving the young man alone, for Throstle and his friend had not lingered.

Pump your friend Throstle and see if you can dig up what he knows about them.

He came into the room so quietly that Throstle who was organizing his notes did not hear him and the big, full-blooded man was sitting at the opposite side of the table before he raised his head.

Presently Throstle eased his body on the straw-padded sacking which covered his perch, stretched himself and fell deeply asleep.

She remembered too the raindrops on the vines like a million tiny lamps, and the throstle that began singing.

In a dingle away from a rutted highroad, Around him the earliest throstle and merle, Our human smile between milk and sleep, Effervescent of Nature he crowed.

Slew the bright morn, and through the tarnished day An iron bell from light to darkness rang: She shut her ears because a throstle sang, She dare not hear the little innocent bird, And a white flower made her poor head to hang-- To be so white!

Penny Throstle owns a craft shop in the new riverside development at Oldfield.

Ms Throstle was doing quite nicely, thank you, until she made a rug for Mr.