sparrow

noun5

1. •
   The house sparrow, Passer domesticus; a small bird with a short bill, and brown, white and gray feathers.

   • Man progresses generally, not both legs at once like a sparrow, but by putting one leg forward first, and then the other. — 1920
2. •
   A member of the family Passeridae, comprising small Old World songbirds.
3. •
   A member of the family Passerellidae (or Emberizidae, under classification systems that subsume the New World sparrows under Emberizidae), comprising small New World songbirds.
4. •
   Generically, any small, nondescript bird.
5. •
   (UK) A quick-witted, lively person.

   • I take it there 's scarcely a happier fellow alive than your honest town-bred smoke-dried cockney sparrow. — 1878