popinjay
[ pop-in-jey ]
/ ˈpɒp ɪnˌdʒeɪ /
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noun
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”
Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.
Question 1 of 7
Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
Origin of popinjay
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English papejay, popingay, papinjai(e), from Middle French papegai, papingay “parrot,” ultimately from Arabic bab(ba)ghā', probably imitative of the bird's cry
Words nearby popinjay
popeyed, pop fly, popgun, pop-in, popinac, popinjay, popish, Popish Plot, poplar, Poplar Bluff, poples
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for popinjay
British Dictionary definitions for popinjay
popinjay
/ (ˈpɒpɪnˌdʒeɪ) /
noun
a conceited, foppish, or excessively talkative person
an archaic word for parrot
the figure of a parrot used as a target
Word Origin for popinjay
C13 papeniai, from Old French papegay a parrot, from Spanish papagayo, from Arabic babaghā
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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