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.

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. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for budgerigar

budgerigar

noun

a small green Australian parrot, Melopsittacus undulatus : a popular cagebird that is bred in many different coloured varietiesOften (informal) shortened to: budgie

Word Origin for budgerigar

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

1847, from Native Australian, said to mean "good cockatoo," from budgeri "good" + gar "cockatoo."