American redstart

noun

See under redstart(def 2).

Origin of American redstart

An Americanism dating back to 1800–10

Definition for american redstart (2 of 2)

redstart
[ red-stahrt ]
/ ˈrɛdˌstɑrt /

noun

any of several small, Old World thrushes, usually with reddish-brown tails, especially Phoenicurus phoenicurus (European redstart).
any of several fly-catching, New World warblers, especially Setophaga ruticilla (American redstart), having black and white plumage with reddish-orange patches.

Origin of redstart

1560–70; red1 + obsolete start tail (Middle English start, stert tail, handle, Old English steort tail; akin to Old High German sterz, Old Norse stertr)

British Dictionary definitions for american redstart

redstart
/ (ˈrɛdˌstɑːt) /

noun

any European songbird of the genus Phoenicurus, esp P. phoenicurus, in which the male has a black throat, orange-brown tail and breast, and grey back: family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc)
any North American warbler of the genus Setophaga, esp S. ruticilla

Word Origin for redstart

Old English rēad red 1 + steort tail; compare German Rotsterz