Popinjay
[pop-in-jey] /ˈpɒp ɪnˌdʒeɪ/
noun
1.
a person given to vain, pretentious displays and empty chatter; coxcomb; fop.
2.
British Dialect. a woodpecker, especially the green woodpecker.
3.
Archaic. the figure of a parrot usually fixed on a pole and used as a target in archery and gun shooting.
4.
Archaic. a parrot.
/ˈpɒpɪnˌdʒeɪ/
noun
1.
a conceited, foppish, or excessively talkative person
2.
an archaic word for parrot
3.
the figure of a parrot used as a target
n.
late 13c., “a parrot,” from Old French papegai (12c.), from Spanish papagayo, from Arabic babagha’, Persian babgha “parrot,” possibly formed in an African or other non-Indo-European language and imitative of its cry. Ending probably assimilated in Western European languages to “jay” words (Old French jai, etc.).
Used of people in a complimentary sense (in allusion to beauty and rarity) from early 14c.; meaning “vain, talkative person” is first recorded 1520s. Obsolete figurative sense of “a target to shoot at” is explained by Cotgrave’s 2nd sense definition: “also a woodden parrot (set up on the top of a steeple, high tree, or pole) whereat there is, in many parts of France, a generall shooting once euerie yeare; and an exemption, for all that yeare, from La Taille, obtained by him that strikes downe” all or part of the bird.
Read Also:
- Popish
[poh-pish] /ˈpoʊ pɪʃ/ adjective, Disparaging. 1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Roman Catholic Church. /ˈpəʊpɪʃ/ adjective 1. (derogatory) belonging to or characteristic of Roman Catholicism adj. 1520s, from pope + -ish.
- Popish-plot
noun 1. an imaginary conspiracy against the crown of Great Britain on the part of English Roman Catholics, fabricated in 1678 by Titus Oates as a means of gaining power. noun 1. a supposed conspiracy (1678) to murder Charles II of England and replace him with his Catholic brother James: in reality a fabrication by […]
- Pop-it
[pop-it] /ˈpɒp ɪt/ noun 1. . [pop-it] /ˈpɒp ɪt/ noun 1. a usually plastic bead that can be connected to or detached from others of the same kind without hooks or clasps, used to form necklaces, bracelets, etc.
- Popj
/pop’J/ [PDP-10 return-from-subroutine instruction]. To return from a digression. By verb doubling, “Popj, popj” means roughly “Now let’s see, where were we?” See RTI. [Jargon File]
- Poplar
[pop-ler] /ˈpɒp lər/ noun 1. any of the rapidly growing, salicaceous trees of the genus Populus, usually characterized by the columnar or spirelike manner of growth of its branches. 2. the light, soft wood of any of these trees, used for pulp. 3. any of various similar trees, as the tulip tree. 4. the wood […]