- Popinjay
- Target for archers made from feathers or plumage attached to a pole; they resembled birds and were hung free to move.
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.
Popinjay — Pop in*jay, n. [OE. popingay, papejay, OF. papegai, papegaut; cf. Pr. papagai, Sp. & Pg. papagayo, It. pappagallo, LGr. ?, NGr. ?; in which the first syllables are perhaps imitative of the bird s chatter, and the last either fr. L. gallus cock,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
popinjay — (n.) late 13c., a parrot, from O.Fr. papegai (12c.), from Sp. papagayo, from Arabic babagha , possibly formed in an African or other non I.E. language and imitative of its cry. Used of people in a complimentary sense (in allusion to beauty and… … Etymology dictionary
popinjay — ► NOUN dated ▪ a vain or foppish person. ORIGIN Old French papingay parrot , from Arabic … English terms dictionary
popinjay — [päp′in jā΄] n. [ME papejai < MFr papagai, altered (infl. by gai: see JAY1) < Ar babghōʾ, babbaghāʾ < a WAfr language: of echoic orig.] 1. a parrot 2. Obs. a target consisting of a wooden parrot on a pole 3. a talkative, conceited person … English World dictionary
Popinjay — A popinjay is a noun signifying a vain person or fop . Popinjay may also refer to:* Popinjay (sport), a shooting sport that can be performed with either rifles or archery equipment * Popinjay, Stibochiona nicea , a species of butterfly * Popinjay … Wikipedia
popinjay — UK [ˈpɒpɪnˌdʒeɪ] / US [ˈpɑpɪnˌdʒeɪ] noun [countable] Word forms popinjay : singular popinjay plural popinjays mainly literary an old word meaning a young man who cares too much about his appearance … English dictionary
popinjay — Yaffle Yaf fle, n. [Probably imitative of its call or cry.] (Zo[ o]l.) The European green woodpecker ({Picus viridis} syn. {Genius viridis}). It is noted for its loud laughlike note. Called also {eccle}, {hewhole}, {highhoe}, {laughing bird},… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Popinjay (sport) — Popinjay or Popingo (signifying a painted bird) is a shooting sport that can be performed with either rifles or archery equipment. The rifle form is a popular diversion in Denmark; a Scottish variant is also known. The archery form is popular in… … Wikipedia
Popinjay (Wild Cards) — Superherobox caption= comic color=background:#c0c0c0 character name=Popinjay real name=Jay Ackroyd publisher=George R. R. Martin debut= Wild Cards (1987) creators=George R. R. Martin alliance color=background:#ffc0c0 status=Active… … Wikipedia
popinjay — noun Etymology: Middle English papejay parrot, from Middle French papegai, papejai, from Arabic babghā Date: 1596 a strutting supercilious person … New Collegiate Dictionary
popinjay — /pop in jay /, n. 1. a person given to vain, pretentious displays and empty chatter; coxcomb; fop. 2. Brit. Dial. a woodpecker, esp. the green woodpecker. 3. Archaic. the figure of a parrot usually fixed on a pole and used as a target in archery… … Universalium