popinjay

[ pop-in-jey ]

/ ˈpɒp ɪnˌdʒeɪ /

a person given to vain, pretentious displays and empty chatter; coxcomb; fop.

British Dialect. a woodpecker, especially the green woodpecker.

Archaic. the figure of a parrot usually fixed on a pole and used as a target in archery and gun shooting.

Archaic. a parrot.

Origin of popinjay

1275–1325; Middle English papejay, popingay, papinjai(e) < Middle French papegai, papingay parrot < Spanish papagayo < Arabic bab(ba)ghā'

This was the figure of a bird, decked with party-coloured feathers, so as to resemble a popinjay or parrot.

Old Mortality, Complete, Illustrated |Sir Walter Scott
The house which had witnessed strange scenes played by stronger actors might be trusted to deal sternly with this popinjay.

The House 'Round the Corner |Gordon Holmes
"Oh, I don't set up to be a popinjay," retorted Welch witheringly.

The Battle Ground |Ellen Glasgow
The business of life is pleasure on the greensward, with shooting at the popinjay!

A Popular Handbook to the National Gallery, Volume I, Foreign Schools |Various

The royal company of archers of Kilwinning—dating, it is said, as far back as 1488—meet every July to shoot at the popinjay.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 7 |Various

popinjay

/ (ˈpɒpɪnˌdʒeɪ) /

a conceited, foppish, or excessively talkative person

an archaic word for parrot

the figure of a parrot used as a target

C13 papeniai, from Old French papegay a parrot, from Spanish papagayo, from Arabic babaghā