'Popinjay' definitions:
Definition of 'popinjay'
(from WordNet)
noun
A vain and talkative person (chatters like a parrot)
noun
An archaic term for a parrot
Definition of 'Popinjay'
From: GCIDE
- Popinjay \Pop"in*jay\, n. [OE. popingay, papejay, OF. papegai, papegaut; cf. Pr. papagai, Sp. & Pg. papagayo, It. pappagallo, LGr. ?, NGr. ?; in which the first syllables are perhaps imitative of the bird's chatter, and the last either fr. L. gallus cock, or the same word as E. jay, F. geai. Cf. Papagay.] [1913 Webster]
- 1. (Zool.) (a) The green woodpecker. (b) A parrot. [1913 Webster]
- The pye and popyngay speak they know not what. --Tyndale. [1913 Webster]
- 2. A target in the form of a parrot. [Scot.] [1913 Webster]
- 3. A trifling, chattering, fop or coxcomb. "To be so pestered with a popinjay." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'popinjay'
From: GCIDE
- Yaffle \Yaf"fle\ (y[a^]f"f'l), n. [Probably imitative of its call or cry.] (Zool.) The European green woodpecker (Picus viridis syn. {Genius viridis}). It is noted for its loud laughlike note. Called also eccle, hewhole, highhoe, laughing bird, popinjay, rain bird, yaffil, yaffler, yaffingale, yappingale, yackel, and woodhack. [1913 Webster]