mavis

¹ American  

[mey-vis] / ˈmeɪ vɪs /

noun

British (chiefly Literary).

1. a song thrush.

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Mavis ² American  

[mey-vis] / ˈmeɪ vɪs /

noun

1. a female given name.

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mavis British  

/ ˈmeɪvɪs /

noun

1. a popular name for the song thrush

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Etymology

Origin of mavis

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English mavys, from Anglo-French mauviz, probably equivalent to ma(u)ve “seagull” (from Old English mæw a small gull; mew ² ) + -iz of unclear origin

Example Sentences

My mavis has four of these in his vocabulary, with which he constantly interlards his song, or rather songs.

From Aileen Aroon, A Memoir With other Tales of Faithful Friends and Favourites by Stables, Gordon

The mavis is imitative of the songs of other birds.

From Aileen Aroon, A Memoir With other Tales of Faithful Friends and Favourites by Stables, Gordon

Vel, si mavis, dic causam efficientem esse causam, a qua fit aliquid, vel a quo proprie oritur actio, intelligendo per actionem emanationem et fluxum ac dependentiam effectus a causa.”—op. cit.,

From Ontology or the Theory of Being by Coffey, Peter

I have known my mavis now nearly two years, and I think he knows me.

From Aileen Aroon, A Memoir With other Tales of Faithful Friends and Favourites by Stables, Gordon

He is up long before the bickering sparrows, and eke before the mavis.

From Aileen Aroon, A Memoir With other Tales of Faithful Friends and Favourites by Stables, Gordon