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. hrpeigs victorius) + beraht bright. See Bright, Hob a clown.] Zool. (a)
A small European singing bird (Erythacus rubecula), having a reddish breast; -- called also robin redbreast, robinet, and ruddock.
(b)
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.
(c)
Any one of several species of Australian warblers of the genera Petroica, Melanadrays, and allied genera; as, the scarlet-breasted robin (Petroica mullticolor)
(d)
Any one of several Asiatic birds; as, the Indian robins. See Indian robin, below.
Beach robin Zool., the robin snipe, or knot. See Knot. -- Blue-throated robin. Zool. See Bluethroat. -- Canada robin Zool., the cedar bird. -- Golden robin Zool., the Baltimore oriole. -- Ground robin Zool., the chewink. -- Indian robin Zool., 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 Zool., 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 Zool., a small Asiatic singing bird (Accentor rubeculoides), somewhat resembling the European robin. -- Robin redbreast. Zool. (a) The European robin. (b) The American robin. (c) The American bluebird. -- Robin snipe. Zool. (a) The red-breasted snipe, or dowitcher. (b) The red-breasted sandpiper, or knot. -- Robin's plantain. Bot. See under Plantain. -- Sea robin. Zool. (a) 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. (b) The red-breasted merganser, or sheldrake. [Local, U.S.] -- Water robin Zool., a redstart (Ruticulla fuliginosa), native of India.
© Webster 1913.