magpie

American  

[mag-pahy] / ˈmægˌpaɪ /

noun

1. either of two corvine birds, Pica pica black-billed magpie, of Eurasia and North America, or P. nuttalli yellow-billed magpie, of California, having long, graduated tails, black-and-white plumage, and noisy, mischievous habits.

2. any of several related corvine birds.

3. any of several black-and-white birds not related to the true magpies, as Gymnorhina tibicen, of Australia.

4. an incessantly talkative person; noisy chatterer; chatterbox.

5. a person who collects or hoards things, especially indiscriminately.

6. Western U.S. a black-and-white cow or steer, as a Holstein.

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magpie British  

/ ˈmæɡˌpaɪ /

noun

1. any of various passerine birds of the genus Pica, esp P. pica, having a black-and-white plumage, long tail, and a chattering call: family Corvidae (crows, etc)

2. any of various similar birds of the Australian family Cracticidae See also butcherbird

3. any of various other similar or related birds

4. (often capital) a variety of domestic fancy pigeon typically having black-and-white markings

5. a person who hoards small objects

6. a person who chatters

7. 1. the outmost ring but one on a target

   2. a shot that hits this ring

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Etymology

Origin of magpie

1595–1605; Mag Margaret + pie ²

Explanation

A magpie is a loud-voiced black and white bird. If someone calls you a magpie, you should probably quiet down. The magpie is a distinctive looking bird, with glossy black and brilliant white markings. Its sound is nearly as striking, famously noisy and almost jarring. This has led to another meaning of magpie, "someone who talks obnoxiously." You might describe your chatterbox neighbor as a magpie — and the word itself comes from the nickname Mag, short for Margaret and commonly used in slang English to mean "idle chattering."

Example Sentences

The Franco-Belgian couturier referenced the extravagant plumage of a roseate spoonbill or the crested cockatoo alongside the humble crow, grey pigeon and magpie.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

Her wishlist included a badge featuring a tiger and a magpie – the movie's animal characters Derpy and Sussie, which are inspired by folk painting.

From BBC • Aug. 28, 2025

In contrast, the magpie was positioned over the cat and represented the common folk, cheekily flipping the hierarchy of the day.

From Salon • Jul. 2, 2025

It’s a magpie movie that’s happy to give audiences the tinselly things they want — i.e., two robots clobbering the Wi-Fi out of each other.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2025

He was a magpie, and his studio was a junkyard of shiny objects, where everything was on display.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

Related Words

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