popinjay

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman papejei, papejoie et al., (northern) Old French papejai (“parrot”), probably from Old Provençal papagay (compare Occitan papagai, Catalan papagai), ultimately from Arabic ببغاء (babġā', “parrot”), of imitative origin.

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: pŏʹpĭnjā, IPA: /ˈpɒpɪndʒeɪ/, X-SAMPA: /"pQpIndZeI/
• (US) enPR: päʹpĭnjā', IPA: /ˈpɑpənˌdʒeɪ/, X-SAMPA: /"pApIn%dZeI/

Noun

popinjay (plural popinjays)

1. (obsolete) A decorative image of a parrot on a tapestry, cloth etc. [14th-16th c.]
2. (now archaic) A parrot. [from 14th c.]
3. (heraldry) A heraldic representation of a parrot. [from 15th c.]
4. A vain, gaudy person; someone who is shallow or superficial. [from 16th c.]
5. (archery) A target to be shot at, typically stuffed with feathers or plumage. [from 16th c.]
6. (UK) The green woodpecker, Picus viridis. [from 19th c.]

Translations

strutting supercilious person

• Dutch: windbuil (nl) ,verwaand heerschap (nl) , kwastl (nl) ,
• Finnish: pintaliitäjä (fi) 

• Macedonian: конте (mk) (kónte) n, гиздавец (mk) (gízdavec) m

parrot — see parrot

Picus viridis — see green woodpecker

target to shoot at

• Dutch: gaai (nl) ,

• Finnish: maali (fi) 

heraldic representation of a parrot

• Finnish: papukaija (fi)