[f. WARBLE v.1 + -ING2.]

1

  1.  That warbles; esp. singing or making tuneful melody with sweet quavering notes.

2

1549–62.  Sternhold & H., Ps. cxxxvii. 5. Then let my fingers quite forget, The warbling harpe to guide.

3

1576.  Pettie, Petite Pallace, 14 b. The bird … heares his felowes sing, and is not able to vtter one warbling note out of his mourneful voice.

4

1579.  Spenser, Sheph. Cal., June, 4. The gentle warbling wynde.

5

1610.  Tofte, Honours Acad., III. 119. Hauing a warbling Lute in her hand.

6

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Past., VI. 114. The warbling Nightingale in Woods complains.

7

1757.  Dyer, Fleece, II. 32. Alternate songs shall sooth your care, and warbling music break from ev’ry spray.

8

1765.  J. Brown, Chr. Jrnl., I. 42. O hast thou tuned these birds to sing forth thy honour in their warbling notes?

9

1883.  D. C. Murray, Hearts, xiv. (1885), 115. The soaring soprano and the high warbling tenor.

10

  † b.  Of discourse: ? Ineffectual. (Cf. WARBLE v.1 4 a fig.). Obs.

11

1621.  T. Granger, Expos. Eccles. xii. 12. 334. He … may iustly retract the Reader from other warbling, erroneous, imperfect discourses, and treatises of men.

12

  2.  In names of birds, as the Warbling Flycatcher or Vireo, Vireo gilvus.

13

1783.  Latham, Gen. Synopsis Birds, II. I. 157. Warbling Grosbeak.

14

1808–14.  A. Wilson, Amer. Ornith. (1831), II. 76. Vireo gilvus,… Warbling Flycatcher.

15

1888.  Sclater & Hudson, Argentine Ornith., I. 51. Ringed Warbling Finch.

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