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:
The boy was clad in robes of grene, Sweete as the infant spring; And like the mavis on the bush, He gart the vallies ring.
From English and Scottish Ballads, Volume II (of 8) by Various
And a Burns can invoke the Throstle in lines as musical as the song of the bird itself—"And thou mellow mavis, that hails the night-fa'."
From An Australian Bird Book A Pocket Book for Field Use by Leach, John Albert
Merry it is in good greenwood, When the mavis and merle are singing; But merrier were they in Dumfermline gray When all the bells were ringing.
From The Land of Song, Book II For lower grammar grades by Various
“Gloomy winter’s noo awa, Soft the westlin’ breezes blow, Amang the birks o’ Stanley Shaw The mavis sings hoo cheery O?”
From Born to Wander A Boy's Book of Nomadic Adventures by Stables, Gordon
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 Mackay, Eric
Greenwood said her family is having to make "some very tough decisions" in caring for her mother, Mavis, who is 90 and in local respite care.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
Mavis, based in White Plains, N.Y., offers tire services and general automotive repair across its more than 3,600 owned and franchised shops around the U.S. and Canada.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
Mavis and I oddly have a lot in common.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2026
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
“Also, Mavis, can you grab the mail? That would be amazing!”
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
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.
