ZebraWords.com - The Definition of 'Popinjay', Synonyms of 'Popinjay' & More on 'Popinjay'

1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)

popinjay
    n 1: a vain and talkative person (chatters like a parrot)
    2: an archaic term for a parrot

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. (Zool.)
      (a) The green woodpecker.
      (b) A parrot.
          [1913 Webster]

                The pye and popyngay speak they know not what.
                                                  --Tyndale.
          [1913 Webster]

   2. A target in the form of a parrot. [Scot.]
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A trifling, chattering, fop or coxcomb. "To be so pestered
      with a popinjay." --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

3. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Yaffle \Yaf"fle\ (y[a^]f"f'l), n. [Probably imitative of its
   call or cry.] (Zool.)
   The European green woodpecker (Picus viridis syn. 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.
   [1913 Webster]

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