popinjay
[ pop-in-jey ]
/ ˈpɒp ɪnˌdʒeɪ /
noun
a person given to vain, pretentious displays and empty chatter; coxcomb; fop.
British Dialect. a woodpecker, especially the green woodpecker.
Archaic. the figure of a parrot usually fixed on a pole and used as a target in archery and gun shooting.
Archaic. a parrot.
Nearby words
popeye, popeye catalufa, popeyed, popgun, popinac, popinjay, popish, popish plot, popishly, poplar, poplar bluff
Origin of popinjay
1275–1325; Middle English papejay, popingay, papinjai(e) < Middle French papegai, papingay parrot < Spanish papagayo < Arabic bab(ba)ghā'
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples 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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