Definitions for: Popinjay


[n] archaic
[n] a vain and talkative person (chatters like a parrot)



Webster (1913) Definition: 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.]
1. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) The green woodpecker.
(b) A parrot.

The pye and popyngay speak they know not what.
--Tyndale.

2. A target in the form of a parrot. [Scot.]

3. A trifling, chattering, fop or coxcomb. ``To be so
pestered with a popinjay.'' --Shak.

See Also: egoist, egotist, parrot, swellhead

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