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.