Afrikaans

edit

Etymology

edit

From Dutch papegaai, from Middle Dutch papegay, from Old French papegai, ultimately from Arabic ببغاء, of onomatopoeic origin.

Pronunciation

edit
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

edit

papegaai (plural papegaaie, diminutive papegaaitjie)

  1. a parrot
  2. (figuratively) a person who parrots, or repeats uncritically, the words of others

Dutch

edit
 
Een groene papegaai (A green parrot).

Alternative forms

edit

Etymology

edit

From Middle Dutch papegay, from Old French papegai, ultimately from Arabic ببغاء, of onomatopoeic origin. Cf. English popinjay.

Pronunciation

edit

Noun

edit

papegaai m (plural papegaaien, diminutive papegaaitje n)

  1. parrot, member of the order Psittaciformes, especially of the families Psittacidae and Psittaculidae
    Synonym: lorre
    • 1770, Nederlandsche vogelen, part 1, page 2:
      Men gaf hem, boven dien, waerschynlyk zynen naem van Garrulus, omdat hy, in eene kooi opgevoed, zeer wel leert klappen, gelyk de Pappegaeyen.
      [The Eurasian jay] was moreover probably given its name Garrulus as he, when raised in a cage, learns to talk very well, like parrots do.
  2. (figurative) A person who parrots other people.
  3. (historical) A bird-shaped target in archery.
  4. (obsolete, derogatory) papist

Derived terms

edit

Descendants

edit