popinjays

n. [ OE. popingay, papejay, OF. papegai, papegaut; cf. Pr. papagai, Sp. & Pg. papagayo, It. pappagallo, LGr. &unr_;, NGr. &unr_;; 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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Zool.) (a) The green woodpecker. (b) A parrot. [ 1913 Webster ]

The pye and popyngay speak they know not what. Tyndale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A target in the form of a parrot. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A trifling, chattering, fop or coxcomb. “To be so pestered with a popinjay.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]