Webster's English Dictionary

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starling

1. star.ling \'sta:r-lin\ n [ME, fr. OE strlinc, fr. str starling 
   + -ling)X, -linc -ling; akin to OHG stara starling, L sturnus : any of a 
   family (Sturnidae, esp. genus Sturnus) of usu. dark grega rious passerine 
   birds; esp : a dark brown or in summer glossy greenish black European bird 
   (S. vulgaris) naturalized and often a pest in the U.S., Australia, and New 
   Zealand
2. starling n [prob. alter. of ME stadeling, fr. ME stathel foundation, 
   support -m more at STADDLE : a protecting structure of piles driven close 
   together around a pier of a  bridge