POPINJAY

popinjay

(noun) an archaic term for a parrot

popinjay

(noun) a vain and talkative person (chatters like a parrot)

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

popinjay (plural popinjays)

(now, archaic, outside, heraldry) A parrot. [from 14th c.; in heraldry from 15th c.]

(obsolete) A decorative image of a parrot on a tapestry, cloth etc. [14th-16th c.]

A vain, gaudy person; someone who is shallow or superficial. [from 16th c.]

(archery) A target to shoot at, typically stuffed with feathers or plumage. [from 16th c.]

(UK) The green woodpecker, Picus viridis. [from 19th c.]

Source: Wiktionary


Pop"in*jay, n. Etym: [OE. popingay, papejay, OF. papegai, papegaut; cf. Pr. papagai, Sp. & Pg. papagayo, It. pappagallo, LGr. gallus cock, or the same word as E. jay, F. geai. Cf. Papagay.]

1. (Zoöl.) (a) The green woodpecker. (b) A parrot. The pye and popyngay speak they know not what. Tyndale.

2. A target in the form of a parrot. [Scot.]

3. A trifling, chattering, fop or coxcomb. "To be so pestered with a popinjay." Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

18 March 2025

ODONTOGLOSSUM

(noun) any of numerous and diverse orchids of the genus Odontoglossum having racemes of few to many showy usually large flowers in many colors


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