wren

plural wrens · alternative dialectal wran

1. Troglodytes troglodytes (Eurasian wren, type species and sole Old World species of the family Troglodytidae).
2. Any member of a mainly New World passerine bird family Troglodytidae; a true wren.
3. Any small bird of similar appearance to a true wren, such as a fairywren or scrubwren.

1. A surname transferred from the nickname.
   1. Sir Christopher Wren, English architect

      The Wren church did not cross the Atlantic at once.

      1983, Marcus Whiffen, Frederick Koeper, American Architecture: 1607-1860

      5 more examples

      This engraving of a Wren design for the north elevation was made in 1702.

      1999, Andrew Prescott et al., The British inheritance: a treasury of historic documents

      Wren rebuilt this church 15 years after the Great Fire, and later renovations have not altered its 17th-century appearance.

      2004, Thomas Bruce Wheeler, London Secrets: London Guidebook for the First Time Visitor

      Wren architecture and Queen Anne furniture style flourished in tandem during the reigns of George II and George III.

      2007, Karla J. Nielson, Interior textiles: fabrics, applications, & historical styles

      The philanthropic concerns underlying Chelsea turned to the navy, and Wren was among those who in 1693 discussed a permanent institution on this site.

      2007, Kerry Downes, Christopher Wren

      This is not to say that a hallmark Wren steeple was universally applied.

      2008, Mark Child, Discovering Churches and Churchyards

2. rareA male or female given name.

   "What's ironic," Alexandra said, "is that Mother named her Wren because as a newborn she reminded Mother of a shy bird. Little did she know."

   2000, Rebecca Wade, A Wanted Woman, Avon Books, →ISBN, page 53

plural Wrens

1. UKinformalA female member of the Royal Navy (originally, a member of the WRNS).

   There was plenty of work for Wrens in the training bases of the navy.

   2008, Brian Lavery, CHURCHILL'S NAVY: THE SHIPS, MEN AND ORGANISATION, 1939-1945

   2 more examples

   The characterisation of male officers as ineffectual chauvinists, and the offering of the Wrens as objects for Charlie's and the viewer's gaze, are mutually contradictory as well as uncomplimentary to all branches of the Navy.

   2007, Jonathan R. Rayner, The naval war film: genre, history, national cinema

   By the end of 1942 Wren officers were permitted to enrol on the meteorological course at RNC Greenwich, after which they were employed as fully qualified forecasters.

   2008, Mark Barber, The British Fleet Air Arm in World War II