of, relating to, or belonging to the Oscines, a suborder of passerine birds that includes most of the songbirds
Word origin
C17: via New Latin from Latin oscen singing bird
oscine in American English
(ˈɑsɪn; ˈɑsˌaɪn)
adjective
1.
designating or of the major suborder (Oscines) of passerine birds characterized by a highly developed syrinx, including most common perching birds
noun
2.
a bird of this suborder
Word origin
< ModL Oscines < L, pl. of oscen, bird whose notes were used in divining < obs-, var. of ob- (see ob-) + canere, to crow, sing (see , chant verb intransitive)