1Any of several brownish grey Old World sparrows of (or formerly of) the genus Petronia (family Ploceidae), which frequent rocky country (frequently with distinguishing word); especially P. petronia, found from Portugal and Morocco to Central Asia.
2US a rufous-crowned sparrow of the subspecies Aimophila ruficeps eremoeca (family Emberizidae) (now rare).
Origin
Mid 19th century.
Definition of rock sparrow in US English:
rock sparrow
noun
1Any of several brownish grey Old World sparrows of (or formerly of) the genus Petronia (family Ploceidae), which frequent rocky country (frequently with distinguishing word); especially P. petronia, found from Portugal and Morocco to Central Asia.
2US a rufous-crowned sparrow of the subspecies Aimophila ruficeps eremoeca (family Emberizidae) (now rare).