different between towhee vs robin

English

Etymology

Imitative of the call of the eastern towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?to?hi?/

Noun

towhee (plural towhees)

1. Any of several species of birds of the genera Pipilo and Melozone.

Usage notes

The taxonomical classification varies. Some authorities place all towhees in Pipilo, others place some in Melozone.

Translations

Further reading

• towhee on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Pipilo on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Pipilo on Wikispecies.Wikispecies

English

Etymology

Short for robin redbreast. Also from Middle English robynet, robynett (“robin (bird)”), from the Middle English name Robynett, a diminutive of the Middle English name Robyn (“Robin”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /???b.?n/
• Rhymes: -?b?n
• (General American) IPA^(key): /???b.?n/
• Rhymes: -?b?n
• Hyphenation: rob?in

Noun

robin (plural robins)

1. Any of various passerine birds (about 100 species) of the families Muscicapidae, Turdidae and Petroicidae (formerly Eopsaltriidae), typically with a red breast.
   1. A European robin, Erithacus rubecula.
   2. An American robin, Turdus migratorius.
2. (historical) A trimming in front of a dress.

Usage notes

The American robin is larger and quite different from the European one: English settlers in America named it from its red breast.

Synonyms

• (all senses): redbreast, robin redbreast
• (the European robin): ruddock

Related terms

• robin redbreast

Translations

See also

• round-robin

References

• European robin on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Erithacus rubecula on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons
• Erithacus rubecula on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
• American robin on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Turdus migratorius on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons
• Turdus migratorius on Wikispecies.Wikispecies

Anagrams

• Biron, Brion, inorb

Catalan

Verb

robin

1. third-person plural present subjunctive form of robar
2. third-person plural imperative form of robar

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??.b??/

Etymology 1

Familiar form of Robert.

Noun

robin m (plural robins)

1. (obsolete) sheep, calf

Derived terms

• robinet

Etymology 2

Derivative of robe, in the phrase homme de robe (“man of the gown”).

Noun

robin m (plural robins)

1. (archaic, derogatory) lawyer

Further reading

• “robin” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).