English Explanatory Dictionary

popinjay

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A parrot.
  2. A decorative image of a parrot on a tapestry, cloth etc.
  3. A vain, gaudy person; someone who is shallow or superficial.
  4. A target to shoot at, typically stuffed with feathers or plumage.
  5. The green woodpecker, Picus viridis.

Pronunciation

pŏʹpĭnjā /ˈpɒpɪnd͡ʒeɪ/ päʹpĭnjā' /ˈpɑpənˌd͡ʒeɪ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-popinjay.wav

Word forms

popinjay popinjays

Etymology

From Middle English popinjay, popyngeay, popingay, popejay, from Anglo-Norman papegai, papejoie et al., (northern) Old French papejai (“parrot”), probably from Old Occitan papagay (compare Occitan papagai, Catalan papagai), ultimately from Arabic بَبْغَاء (babḡāʔ, “parrot”), of imitative origin.

Synonyms

fop macaroni peacock barbermonger beau blade blood buck carpet knight cockscomb dandy dike dood dude dudelet exquisite fashionable fast man fine gentleman foretop fribble gallant go jack-a-dandy Jemmy-Jessamy jetter masher metrosexual mignon petit maître popinjay pretty boy prig puss-gentleman smart spark spiff swell tippy toff

Translations

Finnish: papukaija
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