Popinjay
/ˈpɑpənˌd͡ʒeɪ/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A parrot.
"[I]nnumerable popingayes of ſundry kindes are found chattering in the groues of thoſe fenny places."
- 2 an archaic term for a parrot wordnet
- 3 A decorative image of a parrot on a tapestry, cloth etc. obsolete
- 4 a vain and talkative person (chatters like a parrot) wordnet
- 5 A vain, gaudy person; someone who is shallow or superficial. dated
"The very quintessence of popinjay vulgarity is reached when nicely is made to do service for well, in this wise: "How do you do?" "Nicely." "How are you?" "Nicely.""
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- 6 A target to shoot at, typically stuffed with feathers or plumage.
- 7 The green woodpecker, Picus viridis. UK
Synonyms
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More examples"My girlfriend Aisha's uncle Haziq was a popinjay, always wearing brightly-colored suits with neon handkerchiefs falling out of his pockets."
Etymology
From Middle English popinjay, popyngeay, popingay, popejay, from Anglo-Norman papegai, papejoie et al., (northern) Old French papejai (“parrot”), probably from Old Occitan papagay (compare Occitan papagai, Catalan papagai), ultimately from Arabic بَبْغَاء (babḡāʔ, “parrot”), of imitative origin.