budgerigar
[buhj-uh-ree-gahr, -er-i-]
- an Australian parakeet, Melopsittacus undulatus, having greenish plumage with black and yellow markings, bred as a pet in a variety of colors.
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Also budg·er·ee·gah, budg·er·y·gah [buhj-uh-ree-gah] /ˈbʌdʒ ə riˌgɑ/.
Origin of budgerigar
1840–50; perhaps misrepresentation of Kamilaroi or Yuwaalaraay (Austral Aboriginal language of N New South Wales) gijirrigā (perhaps gijirr yellow or small + gā head)
Also called shell parakeet.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
budgerigar
- a small green Australian parrot, Melopsittacus undulatus : a popular cagebird that is bred in many different coloured varietiesOften (informal) shortened to: budgie
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Word Origin
C19: from a native Australian language
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for budgerigar
n.
1847, from Native Australian, said to mean "good cockatoo," from budgeri "good" + gar "cockatoo."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper