magpie

[mag-pahy]

noun

1. 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.

2. any of several related corvine birds.

3. any of several black-and-white birds not related to the true magpies, as Gymnorhina tibicen, of Australia.

4. an incessantly talkative person; noisy chatterer; chatterbox.

5. a person who collects or hoards things, especially indiscriminately.

6. Western U.S.,  a black-and-white cow or steer, as a Holstein.

magpie

/ ˈmæɡˌpaɪ /

noun

1. any of various passerine birds of the genus Pica, esp P. pica, having a black-and-white plumage, long tail, and a chattering call: family Corvidae (crows, etc)

2. any of various similar birds of the Australian family Cracticidae See also butcherbird

3. any of various other similar or related birds

4. (often capital) a variety of domestic fancy pigeon typically having black-and-white markings

5. a person who hoards small objects

6. a person who chatters

7. 1. the outmost ring but one on a target

   2. a shot that hits this ring

Word History and Origins

Origin of magpie¹

1595–1605; Mag Margaret + pie ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of magpie¹

C17: from Mag diminutive of Margaret, used to signify a chatterbox + _pie ²

Example Sentences

Historians have interpreted this as the era’s political satire: the magpie, audacious in the presence of a great predator, represented the common man standing up to the nobility.

From Los Angeles Times

In contrast, the magpie was positioned over the cat and represented the common folk, cheekily flipping the hierarchy of the day.

From Salon

It’s a magpie movie that’s happy to give audiences the tinselly things they want — i.e., two robots clobbering the Wi-Fi out of each other.

From Los Angeles Times

John said when he left the house this morning he saw two magpies.

From BBC

There are a number of cultural quirks which mean Cabanagate has Australians more worked up than a magpie in spring.

From BBC

Related Words

• debater www.thesaurus.com
• orator