Get Affordable VMs - excellent virtual server hosting


browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

popinjaymore about popinjay

popinjay

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Yaffle  \Yaf"fle\,  n.  [Probably  imitative  of  its  call  or  cry.] 
  (Zo["o]l.) 
  The  European  green  woodpecker  ({Picus,  or  Genius,  viridis}). 
  It  is  noted  for  its  loud  laughlike  note.  Called  also  {eccle}, 
  {hewhole},  {highhoe},  {laughing  bird},  {popinjay},  {rain 
  bird},  {yaffil},  {yaffler},  {yaffingale},  {yappingale}, 
  {yackel},  and  {woodhack}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Popinjay  \Pop"in*jay\,  n.  [OE.  popingay,  papejay,  OF  papegai 
  papegaut  cf  Pr  papagai,  Sp  &  Pg  papagayo,  It 
  pappagallo  LGr.  ?,  NGr.  ?;  in  which  the  first  syllables  are 
  perhaps  imitative  of  the  bird's  chatter,  and  the  last  either 
  fr  L.  gallus  cock,  or  the  same  word  as  E.  jay,  F.  geai.  Cf 
  {Papagay}.] 
  1.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  popinjay 
  n  1:  a  vain  and  talkative  person  (chatters  like  a  parrot) 
  2:  archaic




more about popinjay