parakeet

Definition

Any of various species of small parrot primarily of tropical regions.

Etymology

From Middle French perroquet, probably a diminutive form of the personal name Pierre; some variant forms perhaps via Italian parrocchetto, Spanish periquito.

Example Sentences

• "we had loved them for our pastimes, as we do apes, monkies, or perokitoes, and not as man."
• "'Is it that it talks?' asked the lady. And the Phoenix replied in excellent French. It said, 'Parfaitement, madame!' 'Oh, the pretty parrakeet,' said the lady."
• "According to one legend, the parakeets escaped from the set of The African Queen, John Huston's 1951 film made at Shepperton studios."