Definition: popinjay

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

popinjay
     n 1: a vain and talkative person (chatters like a parrot)
     2: archaic

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Yaffle \Yaf"fle\, n. [Probably imitative of its call or cry.]
   (Zo["o]l.)
   The European green woodpecker (Picus, or Genius, viridis).
   It is noted for its loud laughlike note. Called also eccle,
   hewhole, highhoe, laughing bird, popinjay, rain
   bird, yaffil, yaffler, yaffingale, yappingale,
   yackel, and woodhack.
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, or the same word as E. jay, F. geai. Cf.
   Papagay.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.)
      (a) The green woodpecker.
      (b) A parrot.

                The pye and popyngay speak they know not what.
                                                  --Tyndale.

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

   3. A trifling, chattering, fop or coxcomb. ``To be so
      pestered with a popinjay.'' --Shak.