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popinjay

 
Dictionary: pop·in·jay   (pŏp'ĭn-jā') pronunciation
n.
A vain, talkative person.

[Middle English, parrot, from Old French papegai, from Spanish papagayo or Old Provençal papagai, both from Arabic babġā', babaġā', from Persian babbaghā.]


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Wordsmith Words: popinjay
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(POP-in-jay) pronunciation

noun
Someone who indulges in vain and empty chatter.

Etymology
Via French and Spanish from Arabic babbaga (parrot). The last syllable changed to jay because some thought the word referred to that bird instead of a parrot

Usage
"We Brits didn't really like the way in which Jose Mourinho introduced himself as the 'Special One' when he joined Chelsea as manager. Being a braggart is so un-British, don't you know -- even if you are gifted with a bit of flair. The 'Special One' ought to have been told we don't go in for flamboyance here. If we act the popinjay we can expect others to despise us behind their smiles." — No Space for 'Special Ones'; Western Morning News (Plymouth, UK); Sep 21, 2007.


WordNet: popinjay
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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has 2 meanings:

Meaning #1: a vain and talkative person (chatters like a parrot)

Meaning #2: archaic


Wikipedia: Popinjay
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Popinjay is a noun originally meaning "parrot" (in Early Modern English, cf. German Papagei), but now more commonly signifying a vain person or "fop," especially one whose clothing is laughably over-stylish.

Popinjay may also refer to:


Translations: Popinjay
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Dansk (Danish)
n. - papegøje, indbildsk nar, grønspætte

Nederlands (Dutch)
fat, arrogant persoon, papegaai, kletsmajoor

Français (French)
n. - fat, godelureau

Deutsch (German)
n. - Lackaffe

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (καθομ.) λιμοκοντόρος, τζιτζιφιόγκος

Italiano (Italian)
zerbinotto, bigotto, paolotto

Português (Portuguese)
n. - papagaio (m), alvo de tiro (m)

Русский (Russian)
попугай, болтун

Español (Spanish)
n. - pisaverde, petimetre

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - sprätt

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
鹦鹉, 花花公子, 讲究穿着的人

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 鸚鵡, 花花公子, 講究穿著的人

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 수다스럽고 젠체하는 사람, (고어) 앵무새

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 気取り屋

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) المتبجح, المغرور, المزهو‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮שחצן, גנדרן‬


 
 
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papejay
papagay
Popejoy (family name)

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wordsmith Words. © 2009 Wordsmith.org. All rights reserved.  Read more
WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Popinjay" Read more
Translations. Copyright © 2007, WizCom Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved.  Read more