mavis

¹ American  

[mey-vis] / ˈmeɪ vɪs /

noun

British (chiefly Literary).

1. a song thrush.

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Mavis ² American  

[mey-vis] / ˈmeɪ vɪs /

noun

1. a female given name.

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mavis British  

/ ˈmeɪvɪs /

noun

1. a popular name for the song thrush

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Etymology

Origin of mavis

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English mavys, from Anglo-French mauviz, probably equivalent to ma(u)ve “seagull” (from Old English mæw a small gull; mew ² ) + -iz of unclear origin

Example Sentences

The boy was clad in robes of grene, Sweete as the infant spring; And like the mavis on the bush, He gart the vallies ring.

From English and Scottish Ballads, Volume II (of 8) by Various

The mellow mavis tunes his lay,     The blackbird swells his note, And little robin sweetly sings     Above the woody grot.”

From Aileen Aroon, A Memoir With other Tales of Faithful Friends and Favourites by Stables, Gordon

If a human being were to utter such inharmonious and disconnected tones as those produced by the mavis overhead, it would drive me to distraction.

From On the Heights A Novel by Auerbach, Berthold

Almost the first person we met at the reception was Bishop Claughton, and Mr. Cazenove shook him by the hand saying, "How do you do, my Lord, sive tu mavis Rochester vocari sive St. Alban's."

From Lighter Moments from the Notebook of Bishop Walsham How by How, Frederick Douglas

I am lingering longer with the mavis than probably I ought, simply because I want you all to love the bird as I love him.

From Aileen Aroon, A Memoir With other Tales of Faithful Friends and Favourites by Stables, Gordon