pavonine

[pav-uh-nahyn, -nin]

adjective

1. of or like a peacock.

2. resembling the feathers of a peacock, as in coloring.

pavonine

/ ˈpævəˌnaɪn /

adjective

1. of or resembling a peacock or the colours, design, or iridescence of a peacock's tail

Word History and Origins

Origin of pavonine¹

1650–60; < Latin pāvōnīnus, derivative of pāvō (stem pāvōn- ) peacock; -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pavonine¹

C17: from Latin pāvōnīnus, from pāvō peacock

Example Sentences

The snapshots are affectionate and admiring, and the contradictions in them can give you whiplash — until the end Avedon was pavonine and recessive, autocratic and inhibited, everyone’s best friend and utterly inscrutable.

From New York Times

If that turns you off, it's easy to dismiss Revolution as little more than a narcissism trip – a pavonine linguistic display with a deficit of real substance.

From The Guardian

Scarce one of us domestic birds but imitates the lanky, pavonine strut, and shrill, genteel scream.

From Project Gutenberg