popinjay
nounUK /ˈpɒpɪnd͡ʒeɪ/ · US /ˈpɑpənˌd͡ʒeɪ/
Etymology From Middle English popinjay, popyngeay, popingay, popejay, from Anglo-Norman papegai, papejoie et al., (northern) Old French papejai (“parrot”), probably from Old Occitan papagay (compare Occitan papagai, Catalan papagai), ultimately from Arabic بَبْغَاء (babḡāʔ, “parrot”), of imitative origin.
1
A parrot.
Now archaic outside heraldry
- [I]nnumerable popingayes of ſundry kindes are found chattering in the groues of thoſe fenny places.1555, Peter Martyr of Angleria [i.e., Peter Martyr d’Anghiera], “The Nynth Booke of the Seconde Decade, of the Supposed Continent”, in Rycharde Eden [i.e., Richard Eden], transl., The Decades of the Newe Worlde or West India, […], London: […] [Rycharde Jug for] Guilhelmi Powell, →OCLC, 2nd decade, folio 83, recto:
2
Obsolete A decorative image of a parrot on a tapestry, cloth etc.
3
Dated A vain, gaudy person; someone who is shallow or superficial.
- The very quintessence of popinjay vulgarity is reached when nicely is made to do service for well, in this wise: "How do you do?" "Nicely." "How are you?" "Nicely."1881, Alfred Ayres [pseudonym; Thomas Embly Osmun], “Nicely”, in The Verbalist:
4
Archery, Government, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Martial arts, Military, Politics, Sports, War A target to shoot at, typically stuffed with feathers or plumage.
5
UK The green woodpecker, Picus viridis.