popinjay

Meaning

Noun

• A parrot.
• A decorative image of a parrot on a tapestry, cloth etc.
• A vain, gaudy person; someone who is shallow or superficial.
• A target to shoot at, typically stuffed with feathers or plumage.
• The green woodpecker, Picus viridis.

Origin

• From Middle English popinjay, popyngeay, popingay, popejay, from Anglo-Norman papegai, papejoie et al., (northern) Old French papejai, probably from Old Occitan papagay (compare Occitan papagai, Catalan papagai), ultimately from Arabic بَبْغَاء ("parrot"), of imitative origin.