Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Popinjay
Pop′in-jay
,Noun.
[OE.
popingay
, papejay
, OF. papegai
, papegaut
; cf. Pr. papagai
, Sp. & Pg. papagayo
, It. pappagallo
, LGr. [GREEK], NGr. [GREEK]; 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.
(Zool.)
(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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Popinjay
POP'INJAY
, n.1.
A parrot.2.
A woodpecker, a bird with a gay head. The green woodpecker, with a scarlet crown, a native of Europe.
3.
A gay, trifling young man; a fop or coxcomb.Definition 2024
popinjay
popinjay
English
Noun
popinjay (plural popinjays)
- (obsolete) A decorative image of a parrot on a tapestry, cloth etc. [14th-16th c.]
- (now archaic) A parrot. [from 14th c.]
- (heraldry) A heraldic representation of a parrot. [from 15th c.]
- A vain, gaudy person; someone who is shallow or superficial. [from 16th c.]
- (archery) A target to shoot at, typically stuffed with feathers or plumage. [from 16th c.]
- (Britain) The green woodpecker, Picus viridis. [from 19th c.]
Translations
parrot — see parrot
vain, gaudy person
Picus viridis — see green woodpecker