Definitions for: Magpie

[n] long-tailed black-and-white bird that utters a chattering call
[n] someone who collects things that have been discarded by others

Webster (1913) Definition: Mag"pie, n. [OE. & Prov. E. magot pie, maggoty pie, fr.
Mag, Maggot, equiv. to Margaret, and fr. F. Marquerite, and
common name of the magpie. Marguerite is fr. L. margarita
pearl, Gr. ?, prob. of Eastern origin. See Pie magpie, and
cf. the analogous names Tomtit, and Jackdaw.] (Zo["o]l.)
Any one of numerous species of the genus Pica and related
genera, allied to the jays, but having a long graduated tail.

Note: The common European magpie (Pica pica, or {P.
caudata}) is a black and white noisy and mischievous
bird. It can be taught to speak. The American magpie
(P. Hudsonica) is very similar. The yellow-belled
magpie (P. Nuttalli) inhabits California. The blue
magpie (Cyanopolius Cooki) inhabits Spain. Other
allied species are found in Asia. The Tasmanian and
Australian magpies are crow shrikes, as the white
magpie (Gymnorhina organicum), the black magpie
(Strepera fuliginosa), and the Australian magpie
(Cracticus picatus).

Magpie lark (Zo["o]l.), a common Australian bird ({Grallina
picata}), conspicuously marked with black and white; --
called also little magpie.

Magpie moth (Zo["o]l.), a black and white European
geometrid moth (Abraxas grossulariata); the harlequin
moth. Its larva feeds on currant and gooseberry bushes.

Synonyms: pack rat, scavenger

See Also: American magpie, corvine bird, European magpie, genus Pica, hoarder, Pica, Pica pica, Pica pica hudsonia

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