magpie
[ mag-pahy ]
/ ˈmægˌpaɪ /
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noun
either of two corvine birds, Pica pica(black-billed magpie ), of Eurasia and North America, or P. nuttalli(yellow-billed magpie ), of California, having long, graduated tails, black-and-white plumage, and noisy, mischievous habits.
any of several related corvine birds.
any of several black-and-white birds not related to the true magpies, as Gymnorhina tibicen, of Australia.
an incessantly talkative person; noisy chatterer; chatterbox.
a person who collects or hoards things, especially indiscriminately.
Western U.S. a black-and-white cow or steer, as a Holstein.
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Origin of magpie
1595–1605; Mag Margaret + pie2
Words nearby magpie
Magnus Annus, Magnus effect, Magnus hitch, Magog, magot, magpie, magpie goose, magpie lark, magpie moth, M. Agr., Magritte
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for magpie
magpie
/ (ˈmæɡˌpaɪ) /
noun
Word Origin for magpie
C17: from Mag diminutive of Margaret, used to signify a chatterbox + pie ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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