小雀

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
小	雀
こ Grade: 1	がら Jinmeiyō
kun'yomi	irregular

Attested from at least the 13th century. Origin is uncertain. One theory suggests shortening from an earlier 小雀目 (kogarame), meaning roughly “small birds that fly in a flock”. Others suggest shortening from 小山潜群, which in turn is from 小(こ) (ko-, “small”) plus 山潜群 (yamakugurimure), an obsolete form of 山雀(やまがら) (yamagara, “varied tit”). Compare also エボシガラ (eboshigara, “tufted titmouse”), 四十雀(しじゅうから) (shijūkara, “Japanese tit”).

コガラ or willow tit, Poecile montanus

Noun

小(こ)雀(がら) or 小雀(コガラ) • (kogara) 

1. a willow tit

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
小	雀
こ Grade: 1	すずめ Jinmeiyō
kun'yomi

From 小 (ko, “small”) +‎ 雀 (suzume, “sparrow”).

Noun

小(こ)雀(すずめ) • (kosuzume) 

1. (literal) a small sparrow
2. a baby sparrow

Alternative forms

• (baby sparrow): 子雀

Proper noun

小(こ)雀(すずめ) • (Kosuzume) 

1. Kosuzume (a town in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan)