magpie

[ mag-pahy ]

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.

magpie

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of magpie¹

1595–1605; Mag Margaret + pie ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of magpie¹

C17: from Mag diminutive of Margaret, used to signify a chatterbox + pie ²

Example Sentences

“I never know what I like but I really know what I don’t like. My fingertips squeal when they don’t like the fabric. It’s a bit of a magpie process.”

From Los Angeles Times

But he adds that G. newtoni’s skull also has some parts that resemble skulls of other birds, such as the magpie goose, so “the situation is not so simple.”

From Science Magazine

Dr Ben Beska, 33, from Newcastle, said he saw a group of magpies squawking in his garden on Saturday and went out to investigate when he spotted the fish lying in the grass.

From BBC

This story of an abuse-ravaged family that adopts a magpie as a pet bends toward magical realism when the bird begins speaking swear-riddled nonsense phrases that seem more and more profound as time goes on.

From Seattle Times

Throughout the season, Nymphia Wind embraced her Taiwanese heritage with costumes that included an elaborate headpiece of a magpie — the national bird — and a balloon-filled homage to the iconic Taiwanese drink boba tea.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• debater
• orator