Robin, n. [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.].

A small European singing bird (Erythacus rubecula), having a reddish breast; -- called also robin redbreast, robinet, and ruddock. [1913 Webster]

Beach robin (Zoöl.), the robin snipe, or knot. See Knot. -- Blue-throated robin. (Zoöl.) See Bluethroat. -- Canada robin (Zoöl.), the cedar bird. -- Golden robin (Zoöl.), the Baltimore oriole. -- Ground robin (Zoöl.), the chewink. -- Indian robin (Zoöl.), any one of several species of Asiatic saxoline birds of the genera Thamnobia and Pratincola. They are mostly black, usually with some white on the wings. -- Magrie robin (Zoöl.), an Asiatic singing bird (Corsycus saularis), having the back, head, neck, and breast black glossed with blue, the wings black, and the belly white. -- Ragged robin. (Bot.) See under Ragged. -- Robin accentor (Zoöl.), a small Asiatic singing bird (Accentor rubeculoides), somewhat resembling the European robin. -- Robin redbreast. (Zoöl.) (a) The European robin. (b) The American robin. (c) The American bluebird. -- Robin snipe. (Zoöl.) (a) The red-breasted snipe, or dowitcher. (b) The red-breasted sandpiper, or knot. -- Robin's plantain. (Bot.) See under Plantain. -- Sea robin. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of American gurnards of the genus Prionotus. They are excellent food fishes. Called also wingfish. The name is also applied to a European gurnard. (b) The red-breasted merganser, or sheldrake. [Local, U.S.] -- Water robin (Zoöl.), a redstart (Ruticulla fuliginosa), native of India.

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

Robin, n.
1 (also robin redbreast) a small brown European bird, Erithacus rubecula, the adult of which has a red throat and breast.
2 US a red-breasted thrush, Turdus migratorius.
3 a bird similar in appearance etc. to either of these.

Idiom

Robin Hood (with ref. to the legend of the medieval forest outlaw) a person who acts illegally or unfavourably towards the rich for the benefit of the poor.

Etymology

ME f. OF, familiar var. of the name Robert

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