robin Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
    robin redbreast; Erithacus rubecola; Old World robin; redbreast.
  2. noun large American thrush having a rust-red breast and abdomen
    American robin; Turdus migratorius.

WordNet

Rob"in noun
Etymology
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.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) (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.

Webster 1913