Pŏp'in-jāy, n.

n. [O. Eng. popingay, O. Fr. papegai, papegaut, Pr. papagai, Sp. & Pg. papagayo, It. papagallo, late Gr. παπαγάς, Mod. Gr. παπαγάλλος, Ar. papagá, perhaps from Lat. papa, father, bishop, and Lat. gallus, cock, or Sp. gayo, O. Fr. gai, N. Fr. geai, a jay, because this bird was first and principally kept by clergymen.] 1. A parrot. If a popinjay speak, she doth it by imitation of man's voice. Puttenham.

2. A mark in the form of a parrot, put on a pole to be shot at. Strutt. W. Scott.
3. A gay, trifling young man; a fop or coxcomb. “To be so pestered by a popinjay?” Shak.