popinjay

(päp′in jā′)

noun

Origin: ME papejai < MFr papagai, altered (infl. by gai: see jay) < Ar babghōʾ, babbaghāʾ < a WAfr language: of echoic orig.

See popinjay in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A vain, talkative person.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English, parrot

Origin: , from Old French papegai

Origin: , from Spanish papagayo

Origin: or Old Provençal papagai

Origin: , both from Arabic babġā’, babaġā’

Origin: , from Persian babbaghā

Learn more about popinjay

popinjay in a sentence

popinjay quotes

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD