dunnock

[prettygoodword]

dunnock (DUHN-uhk) - n., a temperate Eurasian sparrow (Prunella modularis).


Better known as a hedge sparrow, and like many related birds is a grey-and-brown job that blends in well with the trees and hedges. The name is dun, which is a greyish-brownish color, + -ock, an Old/Middle English suffix used both as diminutive and to form descriptive names -- so "little dun one."


Thanks, WikiMedia!

---L.

Comments

[flwyd]

Thanks for the "-ock" reference. I'd previously encountered "hillock" and wondered why not just call it a hill?

[prettygoodword]

Yes! -- it's good-to-know suffix.