martin UK /ˈmɑː.tɪn/US /ˈmɑɹ.tɪn/ noun1 •Many of the various passerine birds of the family Hirundinidae, which also includes swallows, that catch insects whilst flying.Roof-haunting martins warm their eggs: / In these, in those the life is stay’d. — 1842 formsmartins