mavis

¹

[ mey-vis ]

noun

, British (chiefly Literary).

1. a song thrush.

Mavis

²

[ mey-vis ]

noun

1. a female given name.

mavis

/ ˈmeɪvɪs /

noun

1. a popular name for the song thrush

Word History and Origins

Origin of mavis¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of mavis¹

C14: from Old French mauvis thrush; origin obscure

Example Sentences

The most astonishing came from Ron and Mavis Pirola, a middle-aged Australian couple who have been together for 57 years.

From The Daily Beast

Ryan Adams, Mavis Staples and Band of Horses are some of the artists to perform.

From The Daily Beast

“He pretended he was just going to have the weekend off and made sure the Japanese spy would pass it all back,” Mavis recalled.

From The Daily Beast

“It was a strange little outfit in the cottage,” Mavis said.

From The Daily Beast

Mavis Lilian Lever was born in Dulwich, south London, on May 5, 1921, the daughter of a postal worker and a seamstress.

From The Daily Beast

A chilling thought struck him: was this what happened to the crew of the Mavis?

From Project Gutenberg

He thought of the bleached bones of the crew of the Mavis, and shuddered.

From Project Gutenberg

He never has those fine intervals of lunacy into which his cousins, the catbird and the mavis, are apt to fall.

From Project Gutenberg

He bowed over it in courtly fashion,but did not kiss it as he had kissed the hand of Mavis Clare.

From Project Gutenberg

With all her intellectual gifts she was yet a lovable woman,ah Mavis!how lovable and dear I was destined in misery to know!

From Project Gutenberg