parakeet

or par·ra·keet

[ par-uh-keet ]

noun
  1. any of numerous small, slender parrots, usually having a long, pointed, graduated tail, often kept as pets and noted for the ability to mimic speech: several species are endangered.

Origin of parakeet

1
1575–85; from Middle French paroquet “parrot,” apparently originally a diminutive of P(i)errot, diminutive of Pierre “Peter,” as a name for a parrot; the modern form and its earlier variants have been influenced by Italian parrocchetto and Spanish periquito (both ultimately from Middle French )
  • Also par·a·quet, par·o·quet, par·ro·ket, par·ro·quet [par-uh-ket] /ˈpær əˌkɛt/ .

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use parakeet in a sentence

  • Just at that moment I was attracted by the sight of a very small parrot, which Jack afterwards told me was called a paroquet.

    The Coral Island | R.M. Ballantyne
  • Suddenly the paroquet bent down its head and uttered a loud scream in his face.

    The Coral Island | R.M. Ballantyne
  • At the same time he gave orders to bring on board his two favourites, a cock and a paroquet.

    The Coral Island | R.M. Ballantyne
  • Similar in form and plumage to the Paroquet Auklet, except the whole under parts are gray.

    Western Bird Guide | Chester A. (Chester Albert) Reed, Harry F. Harvey, and Rex I. Brasher
  • Paroquet, Parroquet, par′o-ket, n. a small long-tailed tropical and subtropical parrot.

British Dictionary definitions for parakeet

parakeet

parrakeet

/ (ˈpærəˌkiːt) /


noun
  1. any of numerous small usually brightly coloured long-tailed parrots, such as Psittacula krameri (ring-necked parakeet), of Africa

Origin of parakeet

1
C16: from Spanish periquito and Old French paroquet parrot, of uncertain origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012