parakeet

Also par·a·quet,
Or par·ra·keet

[par-uh-keet]

noun

1. any of numerous small, slender parrots, usually having a long, pointed, graduated tail, often kept as pets and noted for the ability to mimic speech: several species are endangered.

parakeet

/ ˈpærəˌkiːt /

noun

1. any of numerous small usually brightly coloured long-tailed parrots, such as Psittacula krameri ( ring-necked parakeet ), of Africa

Word History and Origins

Origin of parakeet¹

1575–85; from Middle French paroquet “parrot,” apparently originally a diminutive of P(i)errot, diminutive of Pierre “Peter,” as a name for a parrot; the modern form and its earlier variants have been influenced by Italian parrocchetto and Spanish periquito (both ultimately from Middle French )

Word History and Origins

Origin of parakeet¹

C16: from Spanish periquito and Old French paroquet parrot, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Occasionally, my wife and I pause to read as we amble across to visit our late son, inurned near a Gothic Revival gate crowned by nests of monk parakeets.

From Los Angeles Times

“Rebirth” unleashes the Distortus rex — imagine a parakeet’s head on a bodybuilding cockroach.

From Los Angeles Times

On May 4, a 26-year-old-man applying for admission to the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry was caught attempting to smuggle 16 live parakeets and three live chickens, officials said.

From Los Angeles Times

Bedecked with emerald green feathers and a rose-red beak, the ring-neck parakeets have become the star attraction at the Waterworks Park.

From BBC

Then the fire ravaged her shop, killing the animals inside, including three cats, 25 parakeets and 37-year-old Pesto, her yellow-naped Amazon parrot.

From Los Angeles Times