mavis
noun
a song thrush.
mavis
1 American
[mey-vis]
/ ˈmeɪ vɪs /
noun
British (chiefly Literary).
Mavis
2
American
[mey-vis]
/ ˈmeɪ vɪs /
noun
mavis
British
/ ˈmeɪvɪs /
noun
Etymology
Origin of mavis
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; see mew 2) + -iz of unclear origin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
An’ blithely the mavis salutes the gay morn As sweetly he sings on the snawy white thorn, While the laverock soars high o’er the lang yellow corn, And the moorcocks, the moorcocks are cheerily crawin’.”
From Kenneth McAlpine A Tale of Mountain, Moorland and Sea by Gordon Stables
I sing as sings the mavis in a wood, Content to be alive at harvest time.
From Love Letters of a Violinist and Other Poems by Eric Mackay
In winter my mavis sings whenever the weather is mild and the grass is visible.
From Aileen Aroon, A Memoir With other Tales of Faithful Friends and Favourites by Gordon Stables
And e'en the merry mavis Will rank as rara avis— The sparrow, sole of all that sailed with Noah, Will learn the casual pot-shot to withstand!
From Punch, or the London Charivari, December 2, 1893 by Various
As well micht a coo gang up a tree tail foremost, an’ whustle like a superannuated mavis as get to Canawn for that!”
From Bygone Church Life in Scotland by Various
I’ve learned a lot from Mavis, but aging — I don’t know.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2026
Like Mavis Gallant and Lawrence Durrell, Jhabvala set many stories within the international milieu of diplomats and civil servants.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025
Mavis, 62, was last seen leaving her home in the Haughton area of Darlington on Tuesday, according to Durham Police.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2025
"Unfortunately, Mavis is still missing and anyone with further information should please contact Durham Constabulary," it said.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2025
There was a computer in the basement with a program called Mavis Beacon, which gave lessons on typing.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
