Starling
Starling (-ling) , noun
[Old English sterlyng, a dim. of Old English stare, Anglo-Saxon staer; akin to Anglo-Saxon stearn, German star, staar, Old High German stara, Icelandic starri, stari, Swedish stare, Danish staer, Latin sturnus. Compare Stare a starling.]
1.
(Zoology) Any passerine bird belonging to Sturnus and allied genera. The European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is dark brown or greenish black, with a metallic gloss, and spotted with yellowish white. It is a sociable bird, and builds about houses, old towers, etc. Called also stare, and starred. The pied starling of India is Sternopastor contra.
2.
(Zoology) A California fish; the rock trout.
3.
A structure of piles driven round the piers of a bridge for protection and support; -- called also sterling.