Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
Wrens [renz] ExamplesWord Origin noun (used with a singular or plural verb) Chiefly British Informal.
- the Women’s Royal Naval Service: established in 1917 as an auxiliary to the Royal Navy.
Origin of Wrens pronounced form of the initial letters, with placement of vowel suggested by wren wren [ren] noun
- any of numerous small, active songbirds of the family Troglodytidae, especially Troglodytes troglodytes, of the Northern Hemisphere, having dark-brown plumage barred with black and a short, upright tail.Compare house wren, marsh wren, rock wren, winter wren.
- any of various similar, unrelated birds, especially any of several Old World warblers.
Origin of wren before 900; Middle English wrenn(e), Old English wrenna, obscurely akin to Old High German wrendilo, Old Norse rindill Wren 1[ren] noun (sometimes lowercase) Chiefly British Informal.
- a member of the Wrens.
Origin of Wren 1First recorded in 1915–20 Wren 2[ren] noun
- Sir Christopher,1632–1723, English architect.
- Percival Christopher,1885–1941, English novelist.
Related Words for wrens lark, wren, canary, pipit, serin, oscine, vireo Examples from the Web for wrens Historical Examples of wrens
Wrens and sparrows are not too ignoble a quarry for this villainous gos-hawk!
Samuel Richardson
In fact, he wrote almost as much about the habits of trout as about wrens.
L. Allen Harker
On his last morning he sought and found her beside the sun-dial in the wrens’ garden.
L. Allen Harker
Jan went out into the Wrens’ garden and through Anthony’s gate.
L. Allen Harker
The wrens were not afraid, but they were so small he could not hit them.
Various
British Dictionary definitions for wrens wren noun
- any small brown passerine songbird of the chiefly American family Troglodytidae, esp Troglodytes troglodytes (wren in Britain, winter wren in the US and Canada). They have a slender bill and feed on insects
- any of various similar birds of the families Muscicapidae (Australian warblers), Xenicidae (New Zealand wrens), etc
Word Origin for wren Old English wrenna, werna; related to Old High German wrendo, rentilo, Old Norse rindill Wren 1 noun
- history informal (in Britain and certain other nations) a member of the former Women’s Royal Naval Service
Word Origin for Wren C20: from the abbreviation WRNS Wren 2 noun
- Sir Christopher. 1632–1723, English architect. He designed St Paul’s Cathedral and over 50 other London churches after the Great Fire as well as many secular buildings
Word Origin and History for wrens wren n.
Old English wrenna, metathesis variation of earlier werna, a West Germanic word of uncertain origin. Cf. Icelandic rindill, Old High German wrendo, wrendilo “wren.” The bird’s name in other languages usually denotes “royalty” (cf. Latin regulus), in reference to its golden crest.